#and connect it to the gen kill time frame

[atomicradiogirl]

idc that i’m sort of stealing this guy’s video essay title (generation kill & “the truth” we tell about war) cause he literally doesn’t even talk about gen kill in a meaningful way. he discusses history for the first 30 minutes of the video and most of it isn’t even relevant to gen kill. also he uses the r slur which immediately makes him lose any respect. it takes him an hour to make the point that gen kill allows you to make your own decision and “doesn’t promote or demonize war” which is 1) such a basic take and 2) just fucking wrong? yes it allows you to make your own decision it is NUANCED but it doesn’t have anything to do with promoting or demonizing, it is telling you the truth of war in an unfiltered way. it is a magnifying glass into a much larger conflict. he also spends half the video saying that “people hate the military because they do war crimes” uh yeah?? cause they do??? LOL. this guy is a loser and my video essay will be much better. i was going to change my title so i don’t get accused of stealing but he doesn’t deserve respect anyway. he completely misses the point and all his takes are extremely surface level.

[ipractical-joker]

The Odd Man Out; Generation Kill, RPF, and HBOWar

What's been bugging me since having finished watching all 4 of the HBOWar installments has been how out of place Gen Kill feels when you lump them all together.

The obvious of course being the fact that Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and Masters of the Air are all WW2 (ETO & PTO) and GenKill is very much not, being focused on OIF in 2003. The difference are near endless, Tom Hanks vs Ed Burns, the time frame, 2-3 years vs ~3 weeks, the public perception of the war that they are fight/ invasion they are launching, even the names/number of episodes (BoB/TP -10, MotA-9, not having ep names, GenKill -7, having ep names ).

The names of the shows themselves even evoke very different feelings from the viewer. Band of Brothers and Masters of the Air are triumphant, unity, brotherhood, and victory, which I feel like reflects the view of the general (american) populace on WW2. Generation Kill on the other hand is ugly and direct, and outright violent and diluting from the jump (imho). It's a reflection of the people (men in this case) that fought it, where for some joining up was better than jail, fresh off the surge of American patriotism/Nationalism in the wake of 9/11, trained into red-blood American killers and 'liberators'. They came in and they killed, Operation Iraqi Freedom ringing severely hollow and ironic. It lacks the nobility of the prev 2 titles, its gritty and has an immediate negative connotation compared to BoB and MotA. The Pacific (w/ knowing the context of ww2) is a negative connotation but generally considered neutral (imo). The Pacific is a unique case for my point about naming conventions, because it covers stories about the 1st,5th,& 7th Marines, it has to be more general. The books subtitle "Hell was an Ocean Away", does help, but this is the show we are talking about.

So therefore --> You know what you're getting with each show, it's right on the tin. BoB is brotherhood, MotA is triumph, TP is the horrors of the Pacific, and GenKill is the result of the pressure cooker that was the War on Terror and American patriotism. Then again how much stock can be put into the names of these shows when they are based of books that were name by others, based on the stories that they were telling and vary, intentionally or not, at least somewhat from their source material. I guess I can take it up with Ambrose^2, Miller, and Wright on that point.

Even in their similarities the differences are still very stark. There are marines in TP and GenKill - but one group are volunteers, boots, and draftees (mainly regular people), the others are mainly highly specialized reconnaissance men. Ones beaches, jungles, mountains, and islands, the other is dry af desert in the Cradle of civilization. There is the idea of patriotism in all of them, obvs, and the idea of joining up after a foreign attack on American territory (Pearl Harbor/ 9/11) is present in both, but this is hardly unifying in meta as it's not especially the focus in any show from the point in time where the viewer joins the story, just the means to getting us there, the catalyst (both implied and stated) to the launch into their respective wars.

In the long and short, American patriotism is not the reason these shows are classifed together, though it does serve as a thread connecting them.

Culturally, the expanse could not be greater between shows that similarities begin and end with HBO (& AppleTV) and being about war (w/ BoB/MotA/TP vs GenKill).

So where does the RPF part come in? What I think is the biggest distinction between GenKill and the rest of HBOWar is proximity. It's the idea of historical research vs first hand journalism. 'But Sep!' I hear you cry, 'They [BoB/MotA/TP] are based on first hand accounts!'. Which, I agree! That is true! And I love that we have Parachute Infantry and Helmet for My Pillow, With the Old Breed/China Marine, and the like. I consider them invaluable. But I believe that GenKill is a far more direct page to screen adaptation, with literally word-for-word recitations of recorded conversations, with one of the Marines LITERALLY PLAYING HIMSELF (I can't even wrap my head around that one,,,Rudy Reyes, the man that you are).

That being said, this is not an attack on any of the shows! I love them all so much!! However because of the distance, in the time between the war and the accounts and the creation of the show, it allows a little more wiggle room for creative liberties to be expressed. Just ask Tom "rpf is fine" Hanks!

An interjection here, I've been told that S. Ambrose was more of a writer than historian,,,which doesn't instill the most confidence in his accounts towards historical accuracy. Additionally, in my own reading of him [BoB], I found it,,,underdeveloped? Or perhaps simple might be a better word. Which is good, when making military operations and jargon and further nuances of a World War palatable to the layperson 45 years after it happened. But when posed next to the rather elegant entries of David Webster, which were quoted often and at length,,,Ambrose came off as somewhat lacking. I by no means, mean to disparage S. Ambrose, he is the reason we have BoB in the first place.

So back to it. The aforementioned distance and time and rpf. It's my opinion that it allows for a certain character to be established that is, for the most part, separate from their real life counterpart. That's why there are the disclaimers on fics that establish that it's the show, the works of Tom Hanks or Ed Burns and the actors portrayals that they are basing their fic from, no intention of disrespect to the actual real life people. Because of the nature of Evan Wright's documentation while writing the articles that later formed Generation Kill (2004) and the fact that that was explicitly his job and he was not a marine or solider who also happen to document his experience in war, there is less wiggle room. That (assumed, no man is without bias) faithfulness to what he was seeing in Iraq and then the subsequent pretty dead on series adaptation makes it significantly harder, for me at least, to seperate the men that are portrayed in GenKill (2008) than the real men of 1st Recon that Wright depicted in his book. But that's just me! In the fandom space, GenKill, even if it's not explicit rpf, it does feel more like rpf than any of the other shows. I don't have a problem with rpf, I just don't personally engage with it. Certain details that often included in fics like Nate Fick's horseshoe necklace or Dick Winters engraved knife from Lewis Nixon, their signifcance is never mentioned in the show (nor the objects sometimes even shown) but is explored in fic. We are, at this point, about 20 years removed from the events of GenKill, but still, it feels a bit more invasive to include information obtained outside of that show than any of the others.

Additionally, a call back to the cultural aspect I mentioned before. There no over looking the differences between existing in war and just as a person in the 1940s and 2003. A distinct lack of Nelly in the 40s, for starters.

This had been touched on before by people far smarter than me but, BoB is pretty sterilized in its portrayal of war, it's lack of anger toward the enemy (barring Web's outburst), there 1 sex scene, and limited uncouth language (correct me if I'm wrong). This isn't the case in really any of the other shows in at least of manner or another. TP doesn't shy away from violence and is considerably more gory, but that tracks with the purpose of the show. In my Pacific rewatch I was promptly reminded the stark anger and racism towards the Japanese there was. The Pacific also potentially has the most sex featured in it.

GenKill is in a league of its own for bigoted language and considerable rauch with a distinct lack of both sex scenes, with the exception of combat jacks ig, and named female characters

So what is it? Is there one defining factor that makes GenKill the odd man out? Is it not being WW2, not being done by Tom Hanks, not having Dale Dye, the propensity toward rpf, the presence of Nelly?

What it really comes down to, is of course, the obvious, timing of release and subject matter. BoB was 2001, GenKill 2008, TP 2010, and MotA 2024 and they are all about war and on HBO (except MotA but it was adopted as it has Hanksian parentage). There doesn't seem to be a single unifying thing that holds everything together nor any entirely isolation that makes it so you can't draw parallels between all 4.

In the resurgence of the HBOWar fandom with the airing of MotA, I feel like GenKill has become the ugly stepchild of the fandom, even tho it was the 2nd aired show. Being relatively new to the fandom, I would love to hear from members of the HBOWar pre-MotA and how the dynamics between the shows worked previously. Was GenKill always the odd man out? Was it just with the addition of MotA that it got pushed to the side? Was it a dead fandom and got its own resurgence?

All this to say, PLEASE GOD LET ME TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT GENKILL. I FINSIHED WATCHING IT AND ITS CONSUMED BY BRAIN PLEASE

[windowsdownheateron]

Yellowjackets season 3 spoilers!!!

So in honor of a new episode tonight, here's some more of my theories <3

More on Melissa (I've already touched on this here and here but I have some more to say!!) ~

Okay so at this point I am almost positive that Hilary Swank's character is adult Melissa. It would open a lot of plot points, and I think the writers would be able to do a lot with that storyline. I think that we are going to find out for sure during tonight's episode or the season finale!

(Some things I didn't talk about in my other posts) In the clip we see of Hilary Swank in the trailer, she is holding her shoulder, where teen Melissa was shot by the arrow. Also, in episode 7 when Tai, Misty, Shauna, and Van, briefly spoke about Melissa, Shauna looks like she knows something that the others don't.

Like I said previously, I think that Shauna knows that Melissa is alive, (or she thinks there is a possibility that she is alive) and I think she is going to confront her in tonight's episode. I think that Melissa is the one who brought the tape back from the wilderness because Tai says that Gen and Melissa were the ones who got close to Hannah. Once Hannah knows that she really isn't going to make it out of the wilderness, she probably wanted to tell someone about the tape she hid for her daughter. (Side note, it is very possible that Hannah is pit girl)

My theory (with every little evidence lol) is that Alex didn't know about the tape until recently, maybe Melissa realized that the other survivors had been seeing each other (or something else prompted her to connect with Alex), so that's why the tape is being brought up at such a random time.

Some other small bits of theories ~

I think that Walter is framing Shauna for Lottie's death because he is somehow connected to the frog people. I am not too sure how exactly he is connected, but if he is, he definitely has the intelligence and resources to make sure that no one would find out that he has ulterior motives. Maybe he is even connected to Melissa somehow, and that is why he is specifically framing Shauna.

As for Lotties death, I think Melissa, Alex, Walter, or other Tai had something to do with it, but I don't think Shauna would have done it. Since Shauna is the main character in the adult timeline I think if she were to have killed Lottie we would have seen it happen.

Anyways, I am so excited for tonights episode, and if anyone wants to chat about it feel free to dm me!! I really hope that Van doesn't die, I will seriously be so sad. I am a shaunahat and taivan truther fr so I hope that we get some more scenes of them lol.

[paradoxcase]

@wellhappybirthdaytomeiguess:

'baby-soft skin hammocks'...from a necromancer..gives me the icks.

I mean, I don't think it's any more gross/weird than a lot of other stuff that has happened in the book so far. John already wears baby fingerbones in his hair for adornment

I find it fascinating that John says he could cure cancer....and yet we have Cytherea...

@turtletotem:

@wellhappybirthdaytomeiguess John could have cured Cytherea :) at any time :) instead of letting her suffer for 10,000 years :)))) no wonder she wanted him dead

Oh wow, I didn't make that connection, but yeah, he could have. But instead he really was just like, the only way for you to live is if you become a Lyctor and help me kill resurrection beasts while you suffer from cancer for 10,000 years. I can't imagine what he was thinking, but I also have no idea what he was thinking by just letting the other Lyctors think that the cavalier had to die to achieve Lyctorhood

@eye-lantern:

For the Jesus comparison the nurse gave: she isn't saying it was what made the Romans kill him. Jesus (in the texts) knew that he gave too much for his own good. And he knew the Romans would kill him and he knew Judas would betray him. But he did it anyway because he gave himself to others entirely, even if I meant it killed him. She is saying John needs take care of himself even if it meant refusing to help some people, or he would die wich doesn't help anyone.

Which makes an interesting parallel with the actual Jesus parallel that is Griddle, who died for someone on the iron fence instead of a wooden cross,for someone that would have preferred her to live even if it meant not receiving her help. Gideon spends the entire first book helping everyone, without asking for anything in return, and it litteraly kills her. Maybe twice if we consider avultion. John may have had the apostles but Gideon had the self-sacrificial drive

Oh, right, I guess the sort of canonical interpretation is that Jesus died in order to save everyone else, etc. That is an interesting parallel, I wonder, since presumably Gideon is getting brought back to life at some point, probably by John I would guess, if John is ever going to tell her this story and this particular piece of advice he received?

I don't know if Jod is dreaming with her. To me it could absolutely have happened and she is just dreaming of a memory. The narrator never says something out of place, except for calling him lord, and he only says Harrow. Everything else could be an actual event where names are "translated" to something that makes more sense to harrow, and the crossed-out names are not replaced because she has no idea what to replace it by

@racefortheironthrone:

My interpretation is that Harrow is semi-lucid dreaming Alecto's memories.

That's true, I guess, this could just all be Alecto's memory. But if John telling Alecto this story actually happened, I guess that means Alecto was not around to perceive it at all while it was happening?

@eye-lantern:

I do like that we can get a vague time frame and something more of John's religious background when says he went to Parachute when he was younger. So he's most likely a Millenial or Gen Xer (since it seems that festival was from the early 90s to 2014). Not sure that says anything deep about him, but I find it interesting.

Ahh, that part didn't mean anything to me, haha. That's interesting, though, I'd sort of expected this story to be happening further in the future than that, like the way he is describing people's thoughts about climate change don't really align with the way they are currently, I don't think, it feels like this is happening at a later date, and John isn't described as looking old in the story. Like, if John is Gen X, he'd be 40 at the absolute minimum right now, in 20 years from now he'd be 60+, and I had the impression that this had to be least like 20 years in the future

[neoelysium]

OtLWD: It’s Never Pleasure, It’s Always Work

A/N: Just a short story (around 1100-1200 words, last time I checked) about a pair of elite mercenaries with a very complicated relationship. Some special guests show up too! Present day, canon-wise — 2131. Considering writing a part two to this, but expect to see more of these characters in the future regardless.

-

The job hadn’t been the highlight of Gen’s week; there was not an ounce of pleasure to be found in killing a couple dozen men, and prying a microchip — its contents a complete mystery to him — out of one of their cold, dead hands. Not the highlight of the week at all. He inspected the chip carefully, softly gripping it between his fingers before he pocketed it, dialing up his client.

“Hey, it’s Gen. Got your chip — okay. Yeah… I’ll meet you there in… let’s say fifteen? … Great.”

The client disconnected, prompting Gen to start hastily creeping his way through the building’s dark hallways, trying to hurry back outside to his car. Suddenly, however, he felt cold steel pressed to the back of his neck; it was a revolver, TriSec Arms Avenger — he’d had enough of them pressed in the exact same spot enough times to know, even if he had been blindfolded. He slowly raised his hands.

“Alright… You’re here for the chip. I’m not a fool, I can connect the dots — but you shoot me, whoever you are, and your problems will be greatly multiplied.”

The unknown assailant dragged the barrel across his neck, circling around his frame to face him. The ‘stranger’ sported a getup that was all too familiar to Gen: the turtleneck, the bomber jacket, the armored leggings, and the tactical mask, covering the entire face from the bridge of the nose down… Vanity O’Hare.

“Hello, Gen,” she said, pressing the gun into his jaw.

“Not in the mood to play, Vanity.”

“And I’m not here to play,” she retorted, finger fixed on the trigger. “The chip. Now.”

“Or what? You’ll disintegrate my lower jaw? You don’t have the fuckin’ nerve.”

She chuckled, low and muffled by the mask. “And who would ever know?”

“You.”

“I’ve lived with bigger regrets.”

“You’re an awful bluff. Always have been.”

Vanity knew he was right, though she hadn’t planned on killing him, anyway; the revolver was merely a restraint of sorts, a tool meant to keep him in line.

“You’re right,” she murmured, pulling the gun away from his jaw. “But I can’t just let ya walk out of here with that chip. We both know that. No hard feelings, babes.”

Before he could even think to reply, Vanity swung her arm, hitting him in the side of the head with the butt of the gun, sending him to the floor. Optics glitched out and unfocused, Gen propped himself up on his hands, attempting to pull himself together. Vanity loomed over him as he rubbed his eyes and shook his head, trying anything he could to fix his optical issues.

“You don’t know this right now, but… I’m doing you a favor here, Magellan.” She took a step closer, kneeling down to his level. “Wanna talk about this later? Come find me at Astro’s.”

He struggled to see past the static, catching a glimpse of Vanity rising back to her feet. She stood there, tapping her foot on the hard stone floor as Gen continued his failed attempts to stand.

“I hate that you made me have to do this.”

Gen lifted his head up towards her — the last thing he saw, past the static, before it all went dark was the inches thick, lugged sole of her black leather boot.

Vanity sighed, scouring his pockets for the chip, ripping it from his jacket and tossing it to the floor. She gave it a good stomp, the same boot she had driven into Gen’s face sealing the microchip’s fate. She twisted her foot, shattering it into even smaller pieces. The chip, and whatever data had been stored on it, had been left totally unsalvageable. She took a deep breath before calling up a client of her own; revolver still in hand, eyes still locked tightly on Gen’s unconscious form.

“Van,” the voice on the line growled.

“Pain...”

“How’s our chip situation looking?”

“It’s been destroyed, as asked… You’ll never guess whose hands I pulled it from.”

“Hmm. Last name ‘Hexton’?”

“Thankfully, no. Try ‘Magellan’.”

“Ya finally have to kill him?” Pain’s tone turned low and sinister.

“I’ve already told you I don’t want to kill him. He’s way too useful for that. Even you know that. Pretty cute, too, ‘specially when he’s all beat up like this… Would love to see him cry. I bet he’s a pretty cri—”

“Blech,” Pain groaned, cutting Vanity off. “So how’d you manage to swipe the chip if your man is still breathing?”

“I made him… take a little nap,” Vanity explained, chuckling as her eyes skimmed over Gen’s body. If it hadn’t been for the blood, he could have easily passed for simply being asleep.

“And you don’t think he’s gonna blow your head clean off the next time you two meet.”

“Before I left a boot print on his face, I told him to meet me at Astro’s, y’know, maybe hear me out... He’ll show. And he won’t make any boneheaded moves, either.”

“I’ll never wrap my head around… whatever it is… you two have going on,” Pain replied. “But who am I to judge? Our concerns are settled now. Job’s done, deposit’s gone out… and this call…”

“Is over?”

“Got anything left to say, kid?”

“Mm, not really.”

“That’s what I thought. Pain, over and out.”

Pain hung up, without either of them speaking another word. At last, Vanity was undistracted; she holstered her weapon on her hip, crossing her arms as she looked down at Gen.

“Fuck, maybe I should…” she paused, lost in thought. She nodded, appearing to have reached some sort of agreement with herself. “Okay, let’s try… MINDEYE?”

She paused again, as if waiting for a response.

“MINDEYE, can you hear me?”

Still, nothing. Not a single word in response.

“Am I still connected, MINDEYE?”

All of a sudden, there was static rumbling in her ears — behind it, the voices. They gradually began to sound clearer, more coherent, as the static faded.

“Our connection is decaying, user ‘Vanity O’Hare’,” the chorus of voices spoke; it sounded like hundreds, maybe even thousands, of individual voices speaking as a collective. “However, we are still here. For how long, approximately, remains a mystery.”

“Call me ‘Vanity’, please. Only Vanity. And I want you to connect to this guy,” Vanity commanded, scanning Gen’s body with her optics.

“Did ‘This Guy’ give you, or another user, permission to connect his consciousness to our network?”

“MINDEYE, just — there’s no time for questions, right? Connect to his fuckin’ brain and make sure he remembers to head to Astro’s in Langston Square when he comes to. Please.”

“Understood, Vanity — please connect your IID into his neural port and we will begin the upload.”

“Goddammit. No chance you’ll make yourself a body and help me flip his ass over?”

“We’re sorry, Vanity. We do not have those capabilities.”

“A lot of fuckin’ good being in the Breach does you.”

“Yes.”

“It was — never mind,” Vanity huffed, straining as she rolled Gen’s hefty frame over, little by little. “Shoulda just let him take the fuckin’ thing…”

[ofskellingtcns]

𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐭    —  favorite characters I play / played ; play

so i did the math and over the course of ten years here at walt I've played 26 characters. not including mickey, scar or next gen babies ( because if I had to count my kids from beyond the grave we'd be here forever ) THATS A LOT. now I have ten ( nine active ) and I'm like wow !! how do I pinpoint a favorite !! i love all my characters. asking me to pick my favorite character is like asking me to pick my favorite kid. I won't do it for the present gen but for next gen I say with my whole chest it's josh. this is my current favorite roster of characters I play. whether it's because of their story, connections or because they hold a special place in my heart these are my top four. it would have been top three but the PSD I used had 8 slots so top four for present and next gen let's goooo.

jasper skellington

jasper is the most complex character i have ever written and created. for that I'm very protective of him because, like jack skellington as a whole, he can easily be misunderstood. i can't continue talking about him without thanking bee for creating a character with such love and depth and bea for taking orion and pushing my creativity because her idea for what orion framed jasper for was the catalyst to a lot of jasper's development. listen, I love my bone man. he's one of the more stressful characters I play but writing him often pushes me out of my comfort zone and forces me to use my creative muscles. i noticed long ago that I had a habit of picking up characters who were human and didn't have powers or if they did, I didn't mention it often. jasper is the first non-human character I've played. and let me tell you I've ran with it. creating what a skeleton monster is has been great. I've had a lot of fun developing lore for hallow falls, the skellington lore, what being a skeleton monster means for jasper and what being a skellington means for him. you know, his story is the story of what happens to a good person when they're finally pushed too far. exploring the fine line between revenge and redemption has been interesting. if I had to pick one piece of media that perfectly encompasses him it would be taylor swift's album reputation. the entire album. like there's not a song from it that doesn't fit him in some way. on her rep tour, one quote was "and in the death of her reputation she truly felt alive" and that's jasper. he had to kill his old self to survive and the loss of what he was to the town has allowed him freedom. i mean not really with orion's shenanigans but eventually when it's all said and done jasper will get the peace he's sought after. again, I love the complex dynamics between him and other characters, the development that he will go through during the amulet plot and just jasper as a whole. I'm very thankful that one day I decided I wanted to play him. it'll be a year soon that I've had him and I haven't known peace since.

leonardo hamato

listen i don't remember what life was like before I had leo. suddenly one day I had him and now he's just part of me. realizing I was indeed the blue turtle was a wild discovery but one I am very happy for. leo is now what wally was once to me. he is the muse I pour most of myself into. where I begin and he ends is a very thin line. like jasper, I have enjoyed world-building with leo. Much love, care and time have been put into the hamato-verse. i am thankful every day to have tori, mike and bee with me as my red, orange and purple. we do indeed share one brain-cell. I've gone above and beyond with leo as a character. from his mutations and what would be left behind from it, researching red ear sliders, what traits he would take on from his turtle DNA ( the amount of research and analysis videos I've watched is silly. i didn't do this much research in school for fun ), and how that would affect him in the long run, the hamato ninpo and what that means for him and his powers and trying to mesh all these turtle media together to bring to life a character that is reminiscent of the past leo's we've seen but also making him my own. i enjoy the journey he goes on from an insecure leader thrust into a position he didn't ask for to the wise sensei we all know. ( and yes he is a snitch in the future. he doesn't care he's 44. he's too damn old for his brothers to be acting a fool. he's letting splinty know the buffoonery that happens. ). i definitely have put a lot of love and time into him in the short amount of time I've had him. like sometimes I just talk about him and I just cry because I love him so much. again, he's a character that has pushed me out of my comfort with writing. i have made myself cry many times with his replies because I just don't know when to shut up with all this inner dialogue. i love leo, I love the hamato brothers, i love the future hamatos, I love the extended hamato family and i just love turtles.

reagan cymbeline

my angel ! my baby ! my sunshine ! we know what tangled and rapunzel means to me. the fact it took me until 2019 to take her up. FOUL. CRIMINAL. i love reagan so much. to have the opportunity to play a character that means so much to me I can't put into words how that feels. I'm lucky to have such an amazing flynn rider ( literally when I tell you I could have not asked for a better eugene. like tiff is a god sent. an angel. the better half of new dream ) to bounce off of and bring blondie to life with. like leo, reagan is another facet of me. rapunzel is a character that I hold near and dear to me. she is the character I see myself most in. literally people see tangled things and tell me they thought of me. that's how intertwined we are. so to bring her to life has been so much fun and like LOWKEY cathartic. her story had taken twists and turns ( hi benny ) but I am very excited to delve more into tangled lore, play out big plot points and have her reach her life after happily ever after.

wally axiom

i played wally from when i was 15 to 25. that is many seasons of life. that's a long ass time to play one character consecutively. my brain fully developed while I played them. there is a frontal lobe now. for ten years they were the character that meant everything to me. they were the character that I pour so much of my soul into. they were the character everyone knew me by. wally and I we've been through it together. we've seen some things, we've experienced some things. some were great. others things... not so much. i am very proud of the journey they have gone on. an ending I wish to have myself one day of happiness, growth, and fulfilled dreams. i know they're happy somewhere in retirement with their lovely boyfriend and wonderful kids. AND YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S WHAT THEY DESERVE.

joshua axiom-hawkins

i already said josh was my favorite child and i stand by that. he was my first next-gen baby. the first baby to be born in the present gen. MY first baby to be born in present gen. he's gonna be nine in September. jim and wally have a whole nine-year-old. that's crazy. like the fact, I know when he's born is foolery. ( it's September 12, 2014 ). I've enjoyed exploring him through his adolescence and adulthood. i love that he now has fight club to be part of, I've love expanding on that and his life with dante. and also he has like a great dad. give it up for great dads. jim hawkins you will always be famous. i love josh so much. like that's my baby fr.

wesley skellington

my favorite child of next-gen that's not josh title bounces around with each next gen. for some time now wes has held that title. i get emotional every time I think about wes is the part of jasper that died that gets to live on. jasper gets to protect his younger self in a way that he wasn't and have his son grow up in love. he's gone through many changes in these last few months. he is not the wes you all saw last next gen. I'm very excited to reintroduce him to you when the time comes. i love his thirst for knowledge and to dismantle the skellignton patriarchy, his devotion to his family and though he is a genius, dare he say ( and emphasis on he ) the smartest in his family man does some headass shit and I love him. he is indeed my favorite menace to society. wes & harry u own my heart.

caspian mcqueen

my favorite scallywag. i love caspian. idk what else to say. like he held that second favorite title for so long before wes was born. he's the first character I had to really have powers when we decided to add a magical element to walt. I've enjoyed curating what it means to have these ghost abilities and how he fits into his giant family with them. caspian is the odd one out because of his powers and it's an interesting dynamic to explore, especially because he has a big family. so there are many moving parts. then you add on extended family and PHEW. that and having a famous race car driver for a dad and a pirate turned adventurer for a mother it's all fun to explore. he might live in a world with powers and magic but he was made to feel like a freak because his powers were paranormal and supernatural so having to deal with that truth has been fun for me. i love his silly band, I love his relationship with hallie ( they're happy somewhere on their ship hehe ), I love his bromance with davu and he's really grown up a lot in the four years I've had him. so like I'm proud of him fr.

fox jones

i don't play many villains or mean characters most of the time. in my roster, there are three and fox is one of them. i gave him a tragic ass backstory because I was left to my own devices. now I have this feral bastard. playing out his story of overcoming your circumstances and not letting them taint you forever has been one I've enjoyed. he's not a villain he's just a boy. a boy who needed love and he found it in his family and in stefan. when jean and I were talking about sereddy's future and their kids her saying that serena knew that their kids were meant for them really fucking got me. so to play with that idea and for fox to begin in a place with such hostility to now be raised in love, it makes me weepy because serena and freddy had it HARD growing up ( part of the my dad sucks club you know ) so their kids know nothing but love. it's a hard adjustment for him but you know it's called growth baby. he's getting there. he's pretty, he's feisty and I love coming up with dumb comebacks for him. he's had some iconic one-liners over the years.

[hxhhasmysoul]

Gallery Date

The word play on Harima from the latest chapter has given me brain worms so I’m sorry in advance for this.

Rating: Gen

Genre: crack

Pairing: Sukuna/Uraume

____________

Refreshed from his bath and finally in a body with the proper amount of limbs and not ravaged by teen hormones, Sukuna can finally take Uraume on a proper high-brow date. He dons classy and ridiculously expensive bespoke wafuku that perfectly accommodates his frame and arms.

They choose the event together then hop on Nue to fly there.

The gallery opening is full of important people from the artworld, rich elites and politicians. No one speaks up when Sukuna and Uraume crash it, they are too scared to tell a monster like that that it’s an invitation only event.

Sukuna demands the artist to show them around. The poor creature is scared shitless so they comply immediately and spend the next few hours giving the two vips a detailed tour of the exhibit while they sip on wine and snack on the canapes. 

The artist is both in heaven and hell at the same time.

They had heard of the monsters and super-powered people terrorising Japan, killing people left and right. These two are surely of that kind, looking the way they do and having pulled up on a giant monster bird.

But they are very clearly art lovers, too. They discuss the references, the themes, the inspirations with true insight and delight, curious about what the artists has to say. They notice the finer details of the craft. True, they are sometimes sarcastic when the piece doesn’t meet their standards but the artist feels seen and understood like never before. And it’s not all mockery, Sukuna likes to give praise when it’s deserved. 

In the end they take their favourite pieces without paying for them. Sukuna and Uraume make the choice together, the evening is about their unique connection after all. Having spent this quality time together, feeling closer together and enriched by the deep conversations and the aesthetic experience, they can now enjoy the other pleasures the modern era has to offer. With its numerous cities and countless humans, they can indulging in as much murder, destruction and mayhem as their hearts desire. That’s their favourite aesthetic, their preferred form of artistic expression.

[septiembrre]

I'm a little late but I just saw your post from a year ago about latinx rep in good girls and its sad reflecting back on it and how the show could've done better. Rio was just another stereotype, I hate how he was ambitiously latino and there was just no connection to his culture. Was he first, 2nd, or 3rd Gen? If he was 1st Gen it didn't make sense to have the family speak English. One thing that always annoyed me is how OOC he was at times and how the writers purposely made him out to be like some brown aggressive misogynistic man. They didn't bother making him complex. In a way I'm glad the show got canceled. As a Mexican woman the way Rio was written was racist.

Wah, I’ve been sitting on answering your ask. I wanted to tease your ask apart and respond to it sentence by sentence. But... my brain kept rechazandolo, so now I have feelings dump instead.

Since Good Girls ended, I have been parsing through how I feel about S4 and GG overall — sometimes more positively, sometimes more negatively. Then, I flip to reminding myself it’s not that serious (it's just tv! this is supposed to be my leisure activity!). Then, I waffle back to reflecting.

So, no textual analysis just feels and whining under the cut. I know folks are still mourning the end of the show and I don't want to yuck anyone's yum. Tagging with #ggnegativity.

My short answer is that Good Girls is my beloved, sometimes joyful, sometimes hurtful, complicated little show. Even now that we’re no longer getting new episodes I’m wary of sifting through the information we have about Rio because it’s a mess and it seems like a lot of his character was poorly thought out (ahem, all those dumb messages from Bill Krebs confirming multiple instances of lack of intentionality or care!).

I say this because I was tempted to start responding to you by riffing off of your comment with, “y'know, now that you say that, I think he’s third or fourth gen…”, pero who cares? And the point was never specifically about what gen he is, or even more specifically about... lol, I was going to say it doesn't matter what nationality he was, they just needed to pick one. Ugh, but the wording of that is too glib. The lack of intentionality behind these details feels sanitized to me, it feels very white gaze, it feels lazy.

However, I could have forgiven a lot of this weak character construction if his baseline, plot-related characterization on-screen was more consistent. But, Rio was often used as a plot device in a way that often fell flat for me, a weekly recurring bogeyman whether his antagonism made sense or not. On one hand, I feel for the creative team, because I think they were in a hard place, trying to avoid romanticizing Rio, and trying to seemingly backtrack the sexualization of him in Season 2, but... Idk, it's complicated.

Retrospectively, it’s sitting with me how much Good Girls is rooted in whiteness. While it's something I discerned before (lol, most obviously with 2x13 and in S3 with Lucy's disposability), you know how some shows get to their third or fourth season and finally start investing in their marginalized characters? It’s a crappy thing to hold out hope for, they're crumbs! But, I was. And we did get some Rio worldbuilding. But, ultimately, it felt weak to me -- under-conceptualized or under-worked.

For example, I liked Nick as a Bigger Bad who drove Rio and Beth together. I also thought that Nick's non-existent moral code was a lovely foil to Rio's, and that this contrast humanized Rio in a way that he needed. It also cast a new light on Rio's behavior of the earlier seasons, outside of Beth's perception in a way that I thought was healthy and needed. Great, meaty stuff! However, Nick and Rio's relationship came across as shallow to me. There really did not seem to be a lived-in quality to their scenes. The show really struggled with that element overall -- even with the three lead protagonists (their decades-long history with each other and interactions between their families being largely absent). I wonder why they made that choice.

It's strange because on the flip side we got a hefty amount of contextualization for MLM guy Vance and Annie's bf Kevin... Even that cop who Mick killed! All white men, too.

Me da pena.

Or maybe the thing that bothers me is that those scenes between Nick and Rio didn't center Rio's perspective effectively? Despite the one-on-one scenes being outside of Beth's framing (Rio being a secondary character typically tethered to Beth's story arc), there still was a lot of distance between Rio and the viewer? Like I think of Vance in his kitchen with his wife and child, and the way we as viewers were brought into that to empathize with him, and I think of the distance of Nick+Rio boxing scene or the scenes at the bar. Argh! It's hard to pinpoint without the textual analysis I feel too grumpy to do. It was such a narrative choice to keep Rio aloof and I side-eye it.

Anyway --

Overall, the writing room/show creators/decision-makers didn't seem to consider Latine/x/a/o viewers throughout the crafting of Good Girls and that sucks. It really feels like I'm being told to conform to the white gaze in watching the show, and after 2x13 that makes me feel prickly and defensive. A part of me yearns to do a rewatch to map Rio’s character (and inconsistencies) but I still yield joy from Good Girls — it’s been my main comfort story during the pandemic. I also rendered joy from Season 4 specifically — some of those scenes between the leads at the end were phenom!!

I am leaning into what's bringing me joy right now, so I feel hesitant to stew in critique, even while I also feel some sort of need to make sense of the hurtful racializations. I have a compulsion to write them all down on the same post or list -- somewhere where I can see them all at once and understand. But, at the moment, it’s not a use of my time and energy that feels good. Opting into fics and writing is bringing me a lot of joy during hard times.

I have to close with one final whine, that I am SO fatigued with television options right now. I find myself desperately wishing for more TV out there whose priority audience isn't only white folks. Good Girls isn't alone in its treatment of Latinx characters, or alone in mishandling characters of color or gay characters, or prioritization of empathy for white het male characters, but certainly, creating something more thoughtful shouldn't be so hard.

[yusuke-of-valla]

My fics from 2021

Happy New Year’s Eve! Gonna indulge in some self promotion since honestly there were times this year I’m shocked I managed to write at all, and you know what the few things I did write this year deserve some love.

Dinner For You - RyuGoro, Fluff

If Goro were a romantic, he’d say it’s about finally getting a chance to make something instead of destroy, but he’d never be caught dead saying something that sappy.

Shield - Akekita, angst, major character death

It happens in snapshot.

Moments.

Frames in time that don’t feel real, don’t feel connected.

The Best-Laid Plans (Are Not Thought Up in Half a Second) - Gen, hurt/comfort

The good news is he does cause the shadow to stumble, and it’s attack just misses Ryuji.

The bad news is the shadow stumbles backwards.

Over the edge of the building.

And it pulls Yusuke down with it.

~

Or: Fulfilling a request in the Shibuya Jail goes awry.

Two Knights’ Tango - Gen, Maruki’s deal ending

Ren knows that his plans for a peaceful evening with his friends are ruined the second Goro walks in with that smile on his face.

~

Akechi remebers the truth of their current reality.

Quoth the Robin - Gen, pre-game

There’s a pulse in the back of his skull, and Goro drops to the ground, gasping for air.

‘This is not justice’

~

The first time Goro killed someone

Peace of Mind - ShihoAnn, Phantom Thief Shiho

Ann, bless her heart, is a terrible liar.

She passes of cuts and bruises as “work out trainging” or clumsiness, but Shiho isn’t stupid.

~

Shiho decides to find out what Ann's keeping from her.

To Err is Human, To Forgive is… - Gen, post-defeating Maruki

Luckily the injury isn’t too bad, so Ren gets sent back to his cell with an ice pack and some painkillers (the shitty kind) and told to rest.

It’s good to get his bearings after suddenly being here.

It’s bad because he has to process that Maruki kind of tried to kill him.

~

After awakening in Juvenile Hall, Ren comes to terms with what happened after they defeated Maruki.

[anamatics]

can you add anything about studying tiktok academically? That sounds v interesting. I just saw you post on a text post about it. apologies if you’ve mentioned it before; I just started following you.

the post in question 

To specifically address that post:

Firstly, I think we need to divorce ourselves from the idea that it is just “Zoomers” or “Children” on TikTok. I don’t have specific statistics on the demographics, but there there are certainly as many Millennial, Gen X and Boomer users of the platform as there are Gen Z and younger users. 

Secondly, let’s talk a little bit about the mirroring discourse between 2014 Tumblr and 2021 TikTok. The commentary on this particular post does a poor job at framing what the actual problem is on TikTok. So let’s start there. 

Tumblr was a website of networks. You follow people and you see what they share on their blogs on your dash and you can share your own content into that stream. It produces what are called information flows, where content flows across various nodes (blogs) through interconnected edges (the person to person connection made by act of you sharing something). Here’s a blog explaining how this works. Here’s a good book that discusses virality and  information flows. Tumblr is also a bit complicated, as people can add to posts. This is why there are like 5 versions of every great tumblr meme with different people riffing on the OP. As the post grew, as did the spread of the people who commented below it. But here’s the thing. You, as a user on Tumblr, a conscious choice whether or not to reblog a post and to your blog and therefore your followers. "Discourse"* on Tumblr was curated by social networks of individual users that individual users self-selected into by following various blogs.

TikTok, on the other hand, is curated by an algorithm. You, as a user of TikTok, can shape what you see on your For You Page (FYP). The whole purpose of the FYP is to show you what you want to see, to keep you on the platform. As per TikTok themselves, you are put into a specific space based on what you consciously or unconsciously directed TikTok to believe you fit into. This is done consciously by following people, liking/commenting on/sharing content. It’s done unconsciously too, by watching TikTok content. This is why sometimes you’ll see people complaining that all they’re getting is like, queer discourse. It’s because you watch it. Maybe multiple times to get everything that was said because the app has no built-in captioning feature.

What this means, in essence, is that unlike Tumblr, the user has no real and/or direct control over where, potentially, their content could flow to. In interview studies that I've done with TikTok users, I've found that many TikTok users are careful about the content they produce because they're afraid of it attracting "the wrong kind of attention" - this could be say, a BLM activist getting harassed by white supremacists, or a Native American creator getting harassed by WitchTok for discussing how using certain kinds of sage is appropriative**. The pile on can be aggressive, as that post says, but what that post is missing is that you, as user on TikTok have no control over where that information goes or flows to. This gets more complicated with stitching and dueting.

So, if Tumblr has a more linear flow of information from node to node, TikTok takes information apart, splices it together, and all of it is made more complicated by peoples' faces being attached to it. Then it essentially pingpongs around an essentially closed network determined by algorithmic identity derived from measurable types. This is the part that concerns me. That post is right, people's faces make it more complicated. It complicates privacy. It complicates repercussions for people because it doesn't allow people to learn and grow and change. With video evidence, however, these things get harder. Which the internet writ large needs to get fucking better about. 

However. I was on Tumblr in 2014. I essentially content moderated a fandom for three years as a side gig to my day job. The conversations that are being had on TikTok are the exact same ones that were being had on Tumblr half a decade ago because -- get this -- a whole new generation of young, emergent thinkers, are trying on theory. They're trying on identities, they're experimenting with who they are and they're trying to talk it out***.  It is as mean and as nasty and as unpleasant and we should sit with the fact that Tumblr was fucking toxic because we made it that way. The problem is that the kids have picked the world's shittiest platform to do it on. Like Twitter, TikTok is limited in what you can do/say. So nuance is lost. What this means is that pile-ons can spin out of control, because these are kids who've just discovered debate and theory and ugh, "discourse" and therefore wield it with gusto when they could be more humane, more gentle, and more understanding of the fact that no one's perfect. 

(*sidebar that I high-key hate how discourse has gained a negative connotation because of this hellsite.

**And it is appropriative so stop doing it if you are.

***Baby leftists plz stop being Tankies do you have any idea how many People Stalin/Lenin had killed.)

[breakingbadfics]

Kamen Rider: Power Rangers older slightly more mature cousin

So okay, I'm gonna preface this with a little pre-amble.

Kamen Rider was previously inaccessible in america, making it so that the only means to watch it was through streaming sites, but only recently did the franchise begin licencing distribution to america through Shout Factory dvd sales and the TokuShoutsu channel on Pluto TV. So while if you know where to look you can very easily find any entry in the franchise through alternative methods, I would be remiss to say that if you have any chance to support the franchise legally to please do so. And with that out of the way...

Kamen Rider!

In May 1938 Action Comics number 1 unveils to the world SUPERMAN. An alien from another world sent to defend Metropolis Fighting for Truth, Justice, and The American Way.

Nearly a year later in March of 1939 Detective Comics number 27 brings us, Batman. who fights corruption, and crime on the dirty streets of Gotham City so that no one ever have to experience the pains he once did.

50 years ago on april 3rd of 1971 a new show was created. It was not the first in it's genre but it would go on to become one of the monoliths with in it.

The Original Kamen Rider is the story of how Takeshi Hongo was abducted by the evil organization SHOCKER forcefully made into a cyborg, but before he can be brainwashed to do their bidding he escapes and chooses to use the abilities given to him by shocker to fight them and prevent them from taking over the world.

The original Showa era of Kamen Rider was all connected and would run through 9 series additions to the franchise along side 3 original films.

meanwhile, in the modern day of the Heisei and Reiwa era's there are now a total of 20 and 2 series for the two respective eras. All unconnected, but occasionally move crossovers occur

In the spirit of the original each series follows a protagonist who acquire great power from the same source as his respective antagonists, he proceeds to use these these powers for justice and righteousness.

it is kinda like power rangers and in certain series they actually directly cross over once or twice. however Kamen Rider sort of bends in the direction of the 13 and up set, where power rangers and Super sentai are kinda more geared to the 10 to 12 set (though, real talk, age demographics are kinda bullshit, just watch whatever you want friend) People have died. VIolently during the storytelling in Kamen Rider.

The main characters are often goofy, usually relatable and a touch childlike in demeanor. The bad guy is TERRIFYING. typically the Kamen Rider has a couple companions, then eventually a second Rider to fight along side them. along the way they're either collecting or happen across things that will inevitably be sold to the demographic as toys.

It's formulaic, but formulaic isn't bad so long as there's passion in the execution.

Anyway, it's time for the reccomendations part of the essay.

Kamen Rider Fourze For those of you most familiar with the original mighty morphin power rangers and want something bent in that direction. This is your point of entry. Gentaro Kisaragi wants to make friends with the entire world, and no one is going to stop him. Every one of the 48 episodes are split into a series of two parter's making the show feel much shorter than it is, it rarely gets especially serious, and has so much going for it that I feel like going to deep into it's very basic plot gives too much of it away.

Kamen Rider Ex-Aid: So the world is being plagued by a deadly viru-WAIT NO COME BACK I PROMISE IT'S NOTHING LIKE....real world....Ex-Aid was release in 2017...okay, sit down? okay I'll keep going. So Emu Hojo is a doctor who gets wrapped up in trying to figure out how to cure The Bugster virus, a video games disease that infects people and then eventually becomes a monster that can kill you. Emu teams up with the people of the Computer Rescue team at his hospital and discovers the secrets of how the virus came to be and then some. This is one of the series that look far more Silly on the cover but is like...way more deep than expected.

Kamen Rider Gaim: Did you like Madoka Magicka? Well Gen Urobuchi was involved in the writing for Kamen Rider Gaim, one of the writers of the Dagonronpa series was involved too. So you probably know what to expect from this. Everything is a metaphor until it stops being a metaphor

Kamen Rider Build: TO THIS I OWE BIAS. Build was my point of entry and for that this entry in the reccomends may be longer.

The story begins 10 years ago. The first expedition to mars has successful returned a mysterious stone box named Pandora's box (no. it isn't subtle at all.) Upon touching this box A GIANT STONE WALL splits japan in three with members of Japans government shcisming off and making their own three states and naturally they're in a state of coldwar (because this is not a subtle show). In the modern day Ryuga Banjo has been framed for murder, he meets our protagonist Sento Kiryu, They live in a coffee shop and are very gay together. They fight the evil organization Faust (not subtle) and it just keep going from their.

You should really watch Kamen Rider

[dragonrajafanfiction]

Justice Chapter 1: How?

This is a mini series (hahaha mini series... ok) about the MC in the ReWritten Series, now named Uesugi Yoko. What happens to her after she’s left in Japan by the Caesar Team and what challenges is she facing?

If you read, please leave me feedback! ^_^

Yoko Uesugi looked at her phone from the rumpled sheets in a black tank top and shorts. Tokyo was seven hours ahead of Rome so it would be midnight, ‘Caesar Time’. She’d cheekily texted ‘you up? >:P’, but got no response. He probably was awake, but Caesar was the worst texter and seemed to get worse the more she wanted to hear from him.

She imagined him still awake, smoking a cigar and drinking Champagne. In the Takamagahara he used to stay up all night long to work and sleep in the morning. Yoko still struggled to wake up in the morning and sleep at night, even now. Most of her studying she did at night by the light of a lamp, polishing her Japanese reading and script, studying history, and dragon genealogy. On the nightstand she had crossed off 35 assignments. But this was an accelerated pace she set for herself, not something required by the Japan branch. In fact, Anjou blithely told her that thanks to her performance on the mission, she could be excused from classes entirely.

But knowledge was power, and she needed power.

She made an effort not to bother Caesar. Her assignment in Tokyo was her business after all. He had nothing but full confidence in her ability to handle any difficulty that came her way. So it felt like she was doubting him when she suddenly wondered if what she was doing was going to end up well done in the end. 

And now she wondered if she was going to end up dead.

Months ago, she’d awakened at Cassell College after experiencing the destruction of Black Swan Bay. The disorienting change in circumstances was made all the worse when she was subsequently shipped off to Japan to perform a dangerous mission. She learned that the man who had run the human experimental labs at Black Swan continued the cruelty in Japan. Dr. Herzog set up two organizations from a single family group of hybrids, splitting families apart by their bloodline heritage either the stable ‘good’ genes of Hydra or the ‘trash’ violent genes of the Devil Clan.

He ran experiments on both groups and used violent means to dispose of the undesirable results. When he finished his research, he launched a campaign to eliminate the Devil Clan by framing them for wanting to resurrect ‘god’ that is, the Light King. In less than a week, hundreds of people were dead, thousands were injured. And those who survived had their lives torn apart.

Herzog was dead by her hand, but his legacy lingered in the ruins of the Hybrid families of Japan. Yoko’s assignment was to help heal the fracture between the Devil Clan and the Hydra. Herzog’s legacy in Japan was connected to Black Swan Bay and she knew him intimately. It wasn’t enough to just kill Herzog and call it justice. She wanted to dismantle Herzog’s entire deadly philosophy that caused the slaughter in the first place and undo his legacy in Japan down to the foundation.

However, what needed to be done was going to run her up against some very powerful people. She wanted Caesar’s advice, but he wasn’t answering. Yoko put her phone down and got up to get ready for the day.

Yoko Uesugi wasn’t her actual name. Her real name was Russian because that’s where she was conceived. Her dark hair and eyes appeared Asian, however, only her square jaw and longer nose spoke to some other mixed heritage. It was easier to just adopt a Japanese name rather than have them struggle with her Russian one.

The light was already on in the bathroom. A girl with long red hair brushed her teeth in the mirror and moved aside to let Yoko in. Erii was the one who gave Yoko her last name, fully adopting her as an Uesugi sister. Like Yoko, Erii was the result of Herzog’s experimentation and should have been killed by him. She was the chosen vessel for the Light King parasite, the so-called Tsukiyomi-no-mikoto, who could fully assimilate the genes of the dragon into her own body at the cost of her mind. 

She was horribly unstable. The dragonblood in her body was eating away at her. Yoko was in a similar state and together they bonded over their shared illness. Thankfully, they both ended up sharing the cure of the Light King’s fetal blood that saved their lives, but even this was at a great cost. The resurrection of the Light King provoked the eruption of Mt. Fuji, devastating earthquakes, and a large tsunami that killed hundreds of people. Erii and Yoko got their lives back but the scars on Tokyo were still very apparent.

Erii wrote in her notebook and held it up. “Sakura-Kun got promoted. He’s a big man in College now.”

“That’s good news. Tell him I said congrats.” Yoko runs a brush through her hair and yawns. “Hope it doesn’t get a big head.”

Erii lifted up the paper again. “He says he doesn’t know how he’ll manage.”

“I can sympathize with that.” Yoko looks down at her brush.

As soon as Caesar Gattuso, Chu Zihang and Lu Mingfei left Japan, Yoko was approached by the Clan Chief, Nanami Sakurai who had been placed over the Hydra Executive Board by Chisei Gen before his disappearance. Yoko didn’t know Nanami very well other than a brief encounter where she’d furiously slapped Caesar in the face, not knowing it was him. The cold, murderous look in her eyes frightened Yoko into fleeing the elevator she was in.

But after the events in Japan, Nanami was very different. 

Nanami Sakurai had suffered from both sides of the War. Her relatives were members of the Devil Clan. Akira was less than ten years old when it was determined that his bloodline was dangerous and he was shipped off to the prison like schools for the violent. Kogure Sakurai was older, about fourteen when she was sent away. The two half siblings both died because they took Herzog’s poison and mutated. They were both killed by Chisei Gen.

Not only that, but two men she loved among Hydra died to the Devil Clan. The Kotaro of the Fuma Clan and Genichiro Ryoma.

Nanami took Yoko to an onsen and teahouse where they stayed for a week, talking and swapping stories. Yoko told Nanami the truth. The man who separated Kogure and Akira from her family was the same man who provided the poison that turned them into monsters and the same man who sent Chisei Gen to kill them. The man who did that was also the same man who drove Chime Gen to madness by converting him into Ruri Kazama. Ruri Kazama then killed Kotaru Fuma. This same man planted the Kanto Group in Hydra and induced them to rebel, an action that would lead to the death of Genichiro.

The men she loved in Hydra and her Devil Clan family were all victims of the same man who wanted to resurrect the ‘god’. Dr. Herzog.

Nanami Sakurai was silent and numb for a long time, her eyes dull. She didn’t speak again that night.

Once Yoko returned to her lodging in Genji Heavy Industries, she sent her a memo on how she thought the damage should be repaired. Yoko commented that it was important to listen to all the victims to get a full account of matters and collect evidence to document what happened first before making any decisions.

Kaguya the super computer had her core destroyed in the fighting and was still being rebuilt from a backup, but many of the records were held on personal devices and Nanami also sent out neutral representatives for witness testimony. 

Yoko had spoken to a man of the Inuyama family named Chance who gave her a glimpse of the violence during that horrible week. His family was all killed and their apartment block set on fire. The young children were all orphaned and institutionalized. But even that was only the tip of the bloody iceberg.

The Devil Clan controlled eleven of the eighteen yakuza gangs in Osaka, and the seven gangs loyal to Hydra had always been peaceful to them. But overnight the world changed. The gates of the Genji Heavy Industries building opened, black vans drove out in a convoy and the top members of the Hydra poured out. The moment they arrived in Osaka, the seven Hydra gangs launched an attack on the Devil Clan. Never before in history had a yakuza war been fought so efficiently. It was no less than Hitler's blitzkrieg of Poland. The Devil Clan gangs were crushed one after another before they could organize themselves. Seven of the eleven Devil Clan gangs declared their allegiance to the Hydra Yakuza, three of Devil Clan hold out gangs were beaten to death with bats, and the last one was disbanded. Overnight, Osaka became the Osaka of the Hydra

Not only Osaka, but also from the south to the north, all the gangs loyal to the Hydra family took action and spared no effort to attack the gangs loyal to the Devil clan. Either the Devil Clan members surrendered or their bodies were left on the street.

Hydra had almost all the information about the Devil clan, including the illegal transactions of the clan's gangs and government officials who had dealings with them. The police department received anonymous emails with evidence of the Devil Clan’s crimes, and as soon as the judge accepted the evidence, more than half of the Devil Clan members would be sentenced to prison. The officials who covered up for them received death threats. A prefectural assemblyman was suddenly lifted by a helicopter on the highway in his car, flying 500 meters in the air. The terrified prefectural assemblyman received a phone call in the air from Zuo Shang, an old-timer in the Hydra family, expressing his cordial greetings. Ten minutes later, the helicopter dropped off the senator's car in front of the prefectural assembly building, and by then the senator had become a member of the Hydra family. 

But the ‘ghosts’, the unstable hybrids, never even had the option to defect. Even though they had the blood of the Hydra family in their bodies, in order to escape, some of them used potions that forcibly purified their blood. In front of the Executive Board, which was created to kill people like them, they were just a bunch of desperate beasts. No matter how furiously they struggled, their hearts were pierced by explosive bullets filled with mercury. The aces that the Executive Board brought along with them were responsible for pouring the bodies of the ‘ghosts’ into the cement piles. The cement piles were driven into the bottom of the sea to form a neat array. The Maruyama Construction Institute, to which the Hydra family belonged, would build a shrine on that reclaimed land to commemorate the dead. 

The ghosts who did surrender would be imprisoned for life. During the Heian period, the Hydra family set up a black prison in the hollow of Mount Kobe to imprison the ghosts that appeared in the family. After the Meiji Restoration, the family was exposed to Western ideas and felt that the black prison was not humane enough, so they closed it, but suddenly the rusted iron gate had opened again. Very few ghosts surrendered however, preferring death to an eternal prison and that prison filled with their children.

Yoko had stood on the shore of the sea, looking over the rows of concrete piles under the waves, knowing that each one contained the body of a man or woman who had chosen not to be imprisoned forever and a great cold came over her. Right behind her, the people assigned as her escort and guard were the same ones who had ended these lives. Unless there was an investigation, it would be impossible to tell who was acting in good faith to repair the damage and restore the Japan branch to harmony and who would much rather let all the former Devils serve as a building’s foundation elements.

Thoughts of financial reparations and placement of orphans were suddenly overshadowed by the names of famous courts like Nuremberg and the Hague and Gacaca…

The suggestion of an investigation and trial of cruel members of the executive board went over as poorly as she expected. Where in Japan could she find impartial judges? Hydra owned everything, all the officials in the courts. No witness would ever testify openly in such a situation. Outside judges would have to be brought in. Who could be trusted with compiling such a roster? Who would be in charge of protecting them from corruption and intimidation?

The pushback was immediate. The Executive board were respected and highly regarded members of the Hydra. How could they be prosecuted for sparing no effort in stopping the Devil Clan from resurrecting god? Nanami didn’t tell anyone that this was all a plot of one man. They all still believed it was 100% the Devils’ fault and they all deserved to die. Tachibana was their respected and dearly departed leader who died saving his son at Tokyo Tower! Why were the guardians of Japan being held accountable for a war that the Devils began?

On the way home from shopping, Yoko was researching the Meiji Restoration when a bullet shattered the window. Despite there being a clear blue sky and it was broad daylight, there was no evidence to be found regarding who fired that bullet.  It was a warning shot. Only someone who was very high up in the Hydra rankings could have known where she was at that moment. The next bullet probably would not miss.

Yoko slipped on her shoes at the door and checked her phone one more time before stepping out into the hall of the Genji Heavy Industries building.

Caesar had still not texted her back.

[nellie-elizabeth]

Queliot Fic Recs - Master Post (March 11, 2020)

Hi everyone! I’ve been meaning to do this for a while, but now that we’re staring down the barrel of the show’s official ending, I thought I’d finally take the time to post a master fic rec list!

A couple of notes:

This is by no means comprehensive; I’m sure I’m forgetting several lovely fics, and will be updating this list as I remember/find more.

This list will not include WIPs (the only exception being where I rec a completed story that is part of a series, and mention that sequel(s) are still in progress). I will add the WIPs I’m reading once they are complete!

I am open to suggestions from others, so please reblog and add your own recommendations! I would love to add to this and make it a one-stop-shop resource for people looking for something new to read.

When I know the tumblr handle of the author, I have included it. But in several cases I don’t know the author’s tumblr, if they have one - if you have this information to fill in, please let me know and I will update the master post. (Also, if you notice any broken links or mistakes - I did my best, but this thing is hefty and I’m sure there are errors!)

This took me… forever to put together, so if you find it useful, please reblog - and more importantly, please leave comments & kudos on the stories you read!

Link to the Google Doc, if that’s easier for you to read.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sIUMZcIcpnZ1_9T3o7dkqUaqEw0miwNTfTuZjvjGto4/edit?usp=sharing

Hefty rec list under the cut.

Season Three Gapfillers/Deviations from Canon

These stories usually deal with the aftermath of the mosaic in some way. Many of them were written before the revelations of 4x05, but some were written later, and either comply with canon, or deviate from it from that point.

shipping it by Mizzy (@mizzy2k). Mature. 16,344 words. The Muntjac “ships” Queliot and is trying to help them along. What else can I say? There’s angst, there’s love, it’s silly and it’s sincere.

Sense Memories by mtothedestiel (@summersteve). Explicit. 2,616 words. This is an ABO fic, which is not something I would typically read. But I love this author so much that I decided to give it a try. The thing I like about it is the idea of the mosaic timeline leaving a tangible, physical impact on Quentin and Eliot, and how they might deal with the fallout in this more extreme scenario. If ABO isn’t for you, though, proceed with caution.

throw your shadow over me by peacefrog (@lizardkingeliot). Explicit. 8,187 words. Okay I’m going to recommend basically everything peacefrog has written, but this one is probably my favorite. It’s a super angst-y sex scene between Quentin and Eliot during season three, where Eliot believes this is his last chance to be with Quentin, and is basically dreading the emotional fallout even while it’s happening.

i start spinning (slipping out of time) by peacefrog (@lizardkingeliot). Teen. 2,570 words. Before Eliot goes to Margo to discuss the god-killing bullet, he and Quentin have a conversation about Quentin’s choice to stay at Blackspire. Features a heartbreaking memory of their life together at the mosaic, and just generally gorgeous canon-compliant angst.

Promises by Rizandace (@Nellie-Elizabeth). Explicit. 7,751 words. Eliot and Quentin have it out about Quentin’s decision to stay in Blackspire, and hash out their feelings for each other. This one is canon-divergent (and is probably the one-shot I am the most proud of!)

Overthinking It by Rizandace (@Nellie-Elizabeth). Teen. 3,581 words. Eliot finds out about the abyss key, and it prompts a discussion about Quentin and Eliot’s relationship.

Honey You’re On Fire, Let Me Help by sirfoxheart (@sirfoxheart). Explicit. 5,857 words. Quentin accidentally picks up the abyss key… Eliot finds him and does what he can to distract him. This is hot, of course, but also so desperately full of feeling and love. As the summary implies, there is a good deal of depression and talk of suicide in this story, so take care.

Can’t Let Go by sirfoxheart (@sirfoxheart). Explicit. 5,384 words. UGH. This is what SHOULD have happened after Eliot and Quentin remember the mosaic time-line. This is so satisfying and gave me some catharsis in the aftermath of the direction the story has taken in canon.

~~~~~

Post-Season Four Fix-Its

These stories maintain the canon of season four, and continue on from there. They generally involve bringing Quentin back from the dead.

What Matter Where by achray. Explicit. 28,782 words. Eliot becomes Prince Consort of the Underworld. He gets to be with Q when he’s back home, though. This is almost tough to read, because my brain doesn’t want to accept any half-happy endings, any reality where Eliot can’t spend all of his time by Quentin’s side. But on the other hand… Eliot has to make a big, big sacrifice to bring Quentin back, and you definitely feel the gravitas of that.

life ain’t fair (so i guess we’d better cheat) by micksgotkicks (@lovelyquentin). Teen. 1,137 words. This is more of a pre-fix-it. Eliot rages against the heavens for taking Quentin from him, and resolves to get him back. Short and painful. Cathartic.

Being Alive by miss_whimsy (@bambiesque). Gen. 7,022 words. Eliot sends the letter to Quentin with the magical stamp. And when that doesn’t work, he sends a bunch more. This is one of the very few fics on this list that has any connection to season five canon, which I’m not watching. I did watch 5x03, however, and this fic is borne out of Eliot Waugh never giving up - the way we all know it should have gone.

What kind of man (loves like this)? by destielpasta (@queliotpasta). Explicit. 3,160 words. Eliot and Quentin go out dancing. This fic has a certain quality about it that’s difficult to describe - I could just really feel their love for each other jump off the page, specifically in how badly they clearly want to care for each other. This fic also straddles the line between categories - the author describes it as a “fix-it” and it does deal with Quentin’s resurrection in a more immediate way, but the subject matter itself is much more about the aftermath, rather than the actual “bringing Q back from the dead” part.

You’re a Story (I Can Follow) by Page161of180. Mature. 19,695 words. I think everyone’s read this, but how could I not include it? This technically isn’t a fix-it, because it was written before the season four finale confirmed the theory of Quentin’s death. This author, like the collective fandom, assumed that death would be temporary… and thus, this is the story of Eliot being the Orpheus to Quentin’s Eurydice. It is stunning - a gold standard in writing intense grief with a happy ending. Eliot is undone by Quentin’s death here, and has to fight through obstacle after obstacle to get him back - the biggest one being, his own lack of self-worth. There’s also a somewhat-connected sequel/prequel called And Remember What You Were Before (Not Rated, 6,998 words), which is completely worth the read.

(like a perfect picture) in a broken frame by PanBoleyn (@eidetictelekinetic). Not Rated. 20,631 words. Another resurrection/fix-it fic… Really great group dynamics as everyone works on bringing Quentin back, but also a focus on Eliot’s despair. Kind of your standard fix-it, exactly what the characters should have tried to do, in a world where canon hadn’t betrayed us so badly.

life fades (but you remain) by peacefrog (@lizardkingeliot). Explicit. 62,735. Stunning. STUNNING. Eliot finds a way to get Quentin back, but it comes at a cost. The two of them have to work it out. This features some incredibly good angst with a happy ending, scorching sex, a really intriguing OC in an early chapter, and some nice screen-time for the lovely Alice Quinn, to boot.

as it was by peacefrog (@lizardkingeliot). Mature. 3,913 words. Short and sweet - Penny-40 leads Quentin to where he needs to go, and that’s back home to Eliot.

In the Woods Somewhere by pineapplecrushface (@pineapplecrushface). Explicit. 15,528 words. This is the most creative take on a fix-it I’ve seen! The summary outlines the premise best: “Alice being unable to wipe younger Quentin's memory during the timeshare spell had a ripple effect.” Eliot is so desperate for Quentin in this one, and Quentin, from the afterlife, is having to work out how he feels and where he wants to be.

In Which We Grieve by portraitofemmy (@portraitofemmy). Teen. 3,413 words. I hesitate to call this a “fix-it” really, since Quentin doesn’t come back to life. But despite that, he and Eliot make it work. This is sad, but cathartic too.

(this is not a) Temporary Love by rizcriz (@sadlittlenerdking). Teen. 20,684 words. A fix-it that includes some intense mosaic feels too, as Margo and Eliot read over some letters/notes written during the mosaic timeline. I also like this one for how the rest of the gang finally notices how sick and worn-down Quentin is, and forces Q and Eliot to take a mental health vacation once Quentin is back in the land of the living!

~~~~~

Post-Season Four/Post-Possession - Not Fix-Its

These stories take place after the events of season four, or, in some cases, after an imagined ending of season four (written before the series finale aired), ignoring season five canon. They are not fix-its in the sense that either a) they ignore Quentin’s death in canon and proceed like it never happened, or b) Quentin’s resurrection happened “off-screen” and is not the focus of the story. These fics often deal with the aftermath, both physical and psychological, of Eliot’s possession. They also usually deal with Quentin and Eliot’s reconciliation after the events of seasons three and four, and sometimes continue through their time as an established couple.

your body (your heart) in his hands by Allegria23 (@allegria23). Explicit. 18,636 words. This fic follows Eliot and Quentin into their future. I’m recommending it specifically for the way it deals with Quentin’s discipline - I’ve never seen a fic tackle the subject in quite this way, and with so much care and gentleness. If you are not a fan of kid!fic, don’t be put off by the premise - Eliot and Quentin are great fathers with amazing kids in this future universe, but the focus really does remain on their romance. This story is part of a series called second time around which is all worth a read, especially the latest part, entitled The Special Dish. The whole series really embodies the romance of effort, and how putting in the time to nurture and grow a relationship is what makes it work.

Be still my foolish heart (i’m almost me again) by Butterfly (@butterflydm). Explicit. 3,754 words. A birthday fic for Quentin - he’s a little overwhelmed by the party held in his honor. He sneaks off to be alone, Eliot follows him, and Q tells Eliot about his discipline.

Living Room, NY by cartographies (@honeybabydichotomy). Teen. 11,254 words. Eliot goes to therapy. I’m recc’ing this specifically for Eliot’s rambling confession of love to Quentin in chapter two. The whole thing is lovely, but that part really knocked me the fuck out.

Imagine being loved by me. by destielpasta (@queliotpasta). Explicit. 11,225 words. Holy moly. This is a top-tier fave for me. It’s about sex, it’s about love, it’s about working through a relationship after trauma. Eliot is touch-starved but can’t be touched - so Quentin and Eliot must get creative.

Yes and Yes and Maybe Yes by hetrez (@hetrez). Mature. 5,542 words. The author describes this as “consent porn, with feelings,” and that’s a pretty good descriptor. Quentin has PTSD because of the Monster, and Eliot’s touch can be triggering for him. They work together to get through it. This is hot, yes, but it’s hot specifically because of how badly Eliot wants to take care of Quentin and make him feel safe.

The Dreamers by hetrez (@hetrez). Teen. 10,143 words. Post-possession, Quentin and Eliot are together but things aren’t smooth sailing. The scene from this story that always sticks in my head is Quentin asking Eliot if he wants to have a family again, like they did before with Arielle and Teddy - and Eliot’s horrifically wrong-footed response: “You’ll get a wife again and we’ll have another baby.” As might be predicted, Quentin doesn’t take that very well… and this story is at least partially working out where they stand, what they both want.

The Drum Beats Out of Time by HMGFanfic (@hmgfanfic). Mature. 68,605 words. This series features two stories: Suitcase of Memories and I Fall Behind. Both are amazing, but I Fall Behind in particular is one of my top-tier favorite fics in the whole fandom. This fic does not pull its punches in terms of the effects of Eliot’s possession, and it makes things really rough for Quentin and Eliot’s relationship. Quentin does a reckless thing, Eliot panics, they hash it out - but it’s not easy, and it’s not so clear-cut. These fics also features glimpses of their life together at the mosaic, and a lovely epilogue that shows how they’ve made progress and are still healing as a couple.

the right time and place by impossibletruths (@impossibletruths). Teen. 3,675 words. Eliot trying to propose to Quentin. It’s sweet and fluffy and good for the soul.

hearts like houses by impossibletruths (@impossibletruths). Explicit. 11,888 words. Quentin and Eliot celebrate Eliot’s birthday, post-possession. They get away for a trip, to try and put their worries behind them. This story is full of so much intimacy and gentleness that it just melts my whole heart.

five times my writing was better than the magicians by micksgotkicks (@lovelyquentin). Teen. 6,019 words. These are just… soft. It’s five different short fics, all with slight variations on the simple concept of Quentin and Eliot reuniting post-possession. There’s no intensive deep-dive, nothing too grim or challenging. It’s just the two of them finding their way to each other again and again. Very healing to read, in light of canon’s (inferior) version of reality.

struck from a great height by mtothedestiel (@summersteve). Explicit. 4,517 words. “Life affirming sex” is the most telling tag on this thing. Post-possession, Eliot and Quentin find their way into each other’s arms. Really hot sex, lots of feelings… everything we deserved at the end of the Monster story-line.

And So Lift Your Spirits by OrchardsinSnow (@orchardsinsnow). Explicit. 3,437 words. This was one of the first fics I remember reading in the aftermath of my desperate post-season four feelings, and it hit the spot in the best way. Eliot’s POV - he loves Quentin, but has doubts that he’s actually deserving of something so wonderful, that Quentin could really reciprocate and want to stay. Quentin finds an insanely hot, insanely romantic way to reassure him.

Ten Twenty-Eight by Page161of180. Not Rated. 5,974 words. This is slice-of-life about Quentin Coldwater and how he’s spent Eliot’s birthday, October 28, over the years. It’s told through notes from the Library branch of the Underworld, with added comments from Alice and Penny. It’s weird, but rewarding. I love the record-keeping aspect. This author has a real gift for outsider POV, and this is one of my favorites!

Nights and Mornings by Page161of180. Mature. 6,734 words. Two connected stories, in the aftermath of possession. Quentin doesn’t die, but he does still get back together with Alice, a la 4x12. These stories deal with Eliot’s thoughts on that, and… spoiler… Quentin/Alice is just not meant to be. Quentin makes a different choice.

The Honor of Your Presence by Page161of180. Mature. 18,117 words. Quentin and Eliot get married, and we hear the story from three different POVs… Todd, Rafe, and Marina 23. Random? Yes. Brilliant? Also yes. I love how each POV has a different and distinct literary style. And how even the people who aren’t closest to Quentin and Eliot can see how insanely in love they are with each other.

The Wanting Then, the Needing Now by Page161of180. Not rated. 3,799 words. Alice’s POV, as Eliot is saved from possession, and Quentin falls apart. Basically, Alice realizes where Quentin really belongs. I love the way this author does justice to Quentin’s love for Alice - it’s not a footnote, it’s not an insignificant blip. It’s real, and that doesn’t invalidate the fact that Quentin chooses Eliot. This has a much longer sequel which is also very good - but that story is more Alice-centric and not really focused on Queliot as much, even though they definitely play a part.

Lay Me Down (Pockets Full of Stones) by PanBoleyn (@eidetictelekinetic). Not Rated. 10,024 words. Post-possession, Eliot realizes how badly Quentin has been dealing with things. He’s angry at their friends for not keeping a better eye out - but all that matters right now is finding Quentin and making sure he’s alright. I love this story for how messy their reunion is - how all of their feelings just come spilling out of them without finesse.

(one kiss) it all comes down to this by PanBoleyn (@eidetictelekinetic). Not Rated. 6,391 words. True Love’s Kiss… the boys need to talk about their feelings, and a curse forces the issue. This is so entirely my jam.

box of chocolates by peacefrog (@lizardkingeliot). Mature. 9,256 words. This short series begins with the Teen-rated for love (if it finds you worthy) and features Eliot asking Quentin to be his valentine. Because Quentin and Eliot are… Quentin and Eliot, it still takes them a little while to get their shit together, after that.

when lips and skin remember by peacefrog (@lizardkingeliot). Explicit. 6,163 words. This is for the monthly prompt challenge - “blindfolds” and features Quentin helping Eliot through some sensory issues, post-Monster possession.

an end (but the start of all things that are left to do) by peacefrog (@lizardkingeliot). Explicit. 2,388 words. Birthday smut! Q is alive and gets a blowjob, as the universe requires.

the one with the dog by portraitofemmy (@portraitofemmy). Explicit. 80,517 words. If you haven’t already read this series, what are you waiting for?? It is IDEAL for soothing the soul. Eliot and Quentin deal with the aftermath of their trauma, both physical and mental. They hang out at the condo in New York, they take care of an adorable dog named Lady Desdemona, they have lots of hot sex of course. They heal. Every single one of the twelve stories in this series is worth reading, but my favorites are probably (this is) the beat of my heart (Explicit, 11,700 words), Five Card Draw (Explicit, 3,531 words), all the way home I’ll be warm (Explicit, 15,640 words), and Come What May (Teen, 3,352 words).

5 Scenes from a Road Trip by portraitofemmy (@portraitofemmy). Explicit. 16,218 words. In the aftermath of season four (sans Quentin’s death), the boys need a change of scenery to begin healing and finding their way back to one another. I love how this fic shows their closeness, and how the boundaries of their relationship often defy description. They love each other beyond sex, beyond conventional romance - although they achieve those things, too, as they definitely deserve.

did you know my baby loves me? by portraitofemmy (@portraitofemmy). Explicit. 7,776 words. Quentin tops Eliot on his birthday. What it says on the tin. But as always with this author, even something that should be ostensibly a PWP is filled with so much feeling and love that you could just drown in it.

To Learn to Be Again by portraitofemmy (@portraitofemmy). Explicit. 18,295 words. “I don’t think- I can’t be anyone’s boyfriend right now, Eliot.” Eliot loves Quentin, Quentin loves Eliot, but that’s not always enough to give them a happily ever after. Quentin goes to therapy, deals with his trauma and his mental health, and Eliot is right there beside him with no expectations. This is so, so lovely and every ounce of their happiness feels earned and all the more precious for the pain that’s mixed up with it.

do not go gentle by portraitofemmy (@portraitofemmy). Explicit. 10,260 words. This is almost a fix-it, in that Quentin imagines the events of 4x13, but they don’t actually happen. So be warned if any depiction of Quentin’s death is a trigger for you. I love the way this story deals with the Alice of it all, and also the way Quentin and Eliot talk through their situation and find a way back to each other once again. (Also shower sex happens). This author has written multiple versions of this same reconciliation, but each one is so lovely and I’ll never get sick of it.

the strange act of living by propinquitous (@propinquitous). Explicit. 13,632 words. So there are a lot of fics out there that deal with the aftermath of Eliot’s possession of course. A lot of fics that feature Eliot and Quentin slowly, painfully, finding a way to reconcile. This one holds a special place in my heart for this particular moment, where Quentin walks past Eliot without saying anything, grabs a muffin from the counter, and leaves the room. Later, Q finds Eliot crying in the shower, and Eliot asks him why he just left, taking the food Eliot had made for him, and then ignoring him. That one moment has stuck with me ever since I read the fic, and I keep coming back to it. In all, this captures a very specific kind of hurt that both Quentin and Eliot are feeling, and gets them on the path to healing. Gorgeous.

the safety of others by propinquitous (@propinquitous). Teen. 8,122 words. Quentin doesn’t die in 4x13, but he does get injured. And Eliot keeps vigil. This is - so powerful. I don’t even know how to describe it. Just read it, please.

Magic Curses by Rizandace (@Nellie-Elizabeth). Explicit. 134,886 words. This series includes six stories, each dealing with Quentin and Eliot’s relationship as they undergo external threats from creative and somewhat evil magical curses. It’s my attempt to write in some more hurt/comfort to the fandom, and also to indulge in some established-relationship goodness! The first story, Lover’s Touch (Explicit, 24,781 words), is summarized thusly: “Q gets cursed, and Alice can’t help. Magic forces Q and Eliot to cuddle and talk about their feelings.”

Coming Home by rizcriz (@sadlittlenerdking). Not Rated. 2,958 words. Short and sweet. The author succinctly describes this as: “Eliot gets to be brave.” And he does. He says the thing he wants to say to Quentin, and Q eventually believes him.

Enough by SabbyStarlight. Teen. 2,746 words. This was written just before 4x13 came out. If only if only this is how it had gone instead… basically just Quentin and Eliot talking about their feelings, negotiating their relationship.

Boyfriend by sirfoxheart (@sirfoxheart). Teen. 6,727 words. Quentin is sensitive about the fact that Eliot isn’t introducing him as his boyfriend. This is just… the sweetest. I love that there’s some jealousy and insecurity, but it’s a manageable, reasonable type - Eliot and Quentin are able to talk about it and get past this small bump in the road.

Hunger by sirfoxheart (@sirfoxheart). Explicit. 4,327 words. Quentin gets a birthday blowjob. The end. :)

~~~~~

Mosaic Timeline

These stories are ones that take place almost or entirely within the mosaic timeline - both in keeping with, and in deviation from, what we see in 3x05.

help me hold onto you by ameliajessica (@ameliajessica). Explicit. 14,768 words. This one will hurt your heart, but it’s so rewarding. Featuring Eliot being ridiculously turned on by talking about feelings during sex… and Quentin loving Eliot while grieving for Arielle.

‘Cause my baby’s sweet as can be by destielpasta (@queliotpasta). Teen. 645 words. Tiny fic - maybe the shortest one on the list. Quentin and Eliot are bad at talking about their feelings. Who’s surprised?

flowing all this time by mtothedestiel (@summersteve). Explicit. 5,488 words. This is one of those fics where Arielle isn’t an obstacle for the boys… but rather, Eliot is an obstacle for Quentin and Arielle, in a way. It has some bittersweet moments, but I love how much Eliot loves Quentin here. This is also (spoiler) the rare fic where Arielle chooses to leave, rather than dying.

a cure i know (that soothes the soul) by peacefrog (@lizardkingeliot). Explicit. 4,857 words. Little snippets of Quentin and Eliot’s life through the years at the mosaic. Recc’ing especially for middle-aged Queliot, which we see all too little of in this fandom!

measure in love by portraitofemmy (@portraitofemmy). Explicit. 51,827 words. This is a series about Quentin, Eliot, and Arielle’s lives together at the mosaic. I don’t know if the author plans to write more in this series or not, but each one can stand alone. I am particularly enamored with The Ways We Fit Together (Explicit, 11,661 words), which is summarized succinctly as “sex and love in the mosaic timeline”, and You Steer My Heart (Explicit, 25,217 words), which follows Eliot’s mindset as he watches Quentin and Arielle fall in love with each other, while Quentin and Eliot continue to love each other as well. It’s stunning, and probably my favorite take on the three of them and their polyamorous relationship. This series has everything - the best combination of smut and feelings you could hope for.

Running All This Time by Rizandace (@Nellie-Elizabeth). Explicit. 179,478 words.The story of the mosaic timeline, built on the foundation of love and communication. To my knowledge, the only completed mosaic long-fic in the fandom thus far! Includes Fillorian nonsense, a quest within a quest, plenty of sex, lots of hurt/comfort, a different take on Arielle, and happy endings for everyone.

Reciprocal by Rizandace (@Nellie-Elizabeth). Teen. 8,259. Eliot is an idiot about his feelings (what else is new?), and he tries to make things better in the worst possible way. This fic imagines a world where Eliot and Quentin find happiness together without Arielle as a part of their romantic/sexual lives.

my heart is thrilled by the still of your hand by sirfoxheart (@sirfoxheart). Explicit. 9,586 words. This is the porn-iest version of “Quentin and Eliot don’t know how to talk about their feelings.” Basically, the boys keep jerking off next to each other in bed, and they don’t talk about it because they’re IDIOTS.

you know that’s my love (bursting loud from inside) by sirfoxheart (@sirfoxheart). Explicit. 11,904 words. Another fic where Arielle decides to leave. Eliot is so good at taking care of his family.

tomorrow past tonight by vegansheilseitan. Explicit. 7,676 words. Okay - if you’re only going to read one gap-filler for 3x05, that’s basically just the missing sex scene and nothing else, make it this one. It’s hot, and it’s aching with everything Quentin and Eliot aren’t saying to each other. This is one of my absolute favorites.

~~~~~

Brakebills Alternate Universe / Season One

These stories are generally, but not always, pure relationship fics where the plot concerns of canon (i.e. the Beast, and time loops) do not exist, and instead Quentin and Eliot get to be magical grad students together, and fall in love.

Every Blessed Thing by achray. Explicit. 7,795 words. Quentin turns himself invisible. This fic is complex in how Alice and Quentin’s relationship is portrayed, and the resolution isn’t clear-cut. I really like this characterization of both Quentin and Eliot.

saturate the atmosphere (wake me from a dream) by Allegria23 (@allegria23). Explicit. 7,394 words. This is some good ol’ sexy times with a healthy dash of feelings. Eliot involuntarily levitates them while Quentin’s giving him a blowjob, so… that’s honestly all you need to know about this one. Go give it a read.

i feel it in my body, know it in my mind by ameliajessica (@ameliajessica). Mature. 11,817 words. Let’s pretend that this is what happened in 1x03, okay? Kady doesn’t interrupt when Eliot pours Q a drink, and sex ensues. I love how flabbergasted Eliot is by everything that happens - especially his reaction to the news that Quentin isn’t straight, and isn’t going to be squeamish at the thought of sleeping with a man. So hot, so cute.

if being him is who you are / say it loud say you know you are by ameliajessica (@ameliajessica). Mature. 5,293 words. Okay, holy shit. Mike’s POV - he decides that he and Eliot should have a threesome with Quentin, so Eliot can get it out of his system. Uh. Yeah, that backfires. Poor Mike. But also - the sex in this is the epitome of tenderness and love. Eliot is so careful with Quentin, so awed and desperate and shaky at the chance to be with him. There is a sequel in the works, too, so watch out for that!

Hedonism for Beginners by ceeainthereforthat (@ceeainthereforthat). Explicit. 20,730 words. A series of filthy sex, basically. Eliot is teaching Quentin about what he likes in bed. I don’t know if the series is abandoned or not, but in any case, each of these works on its own as a PWP but with a deep undercurrent of feelings.

Something Good by HMGFanfic (@hmgfanfic). Teen. 162,260 words. The Gold Standard slow-burn rom-com AU! Seriously, I know everyone’s read this, but if you haven’t for some reason… please do. The slow-burn is so slow you’ll be tearing your hair out by the end, but it’s all worth it when you get to the catharsis. How oblivious can Quentin be about Eliot’s feelings? This fic asks and answers that question, and the answer is - very. There are also two fics that accompany the main story: Someone Good (Eliot’s POV of the main story) and Somewhere Good (future one-shots of Quentin and Eliot’s life together). Both are on hiatus but the author plans to return to them. You can read the existing chapter of each without feeling like anything is unfinished, though.

Not Always Folly by HMGFanfic (@hmgfanfic). Explicit. 262,583 words. Another amazing romantic… comedy? but this one is from Eliot’s POV and is in some ways more a character study of Eliot Waugh than it is simply a romance. Although the romance… you guys… the pining levels are off the charts. Eliot ends up hurting Quentin, and really everyone else he cares about, in this story, but he puts in the work to make it right. I admire this fic for diving deep into Eliot’s psyche while also delivering on an amazing slow-burn of a different sort. Bonus points for Alice and Eliot getting to be friends like they deserve!

Be kind by longnationalnightmare. Explicit. 10,069 words. It’s the highest kudo’d fic in the fandom! I assume that means you’ve all read it? This is a PWP, but I love it specifically for how much Eliot loses his usual control when he’s with Quentin.

to be unbroken or be brave again. by milominderbinder (@disasterbiquentin). Teen. 14,135 words. Hey, it’s a 10 Things I Hate About You AU! Kind of! Josh asks Quentin to pretend to date Eliot to cheer him up after a breakup, so that Margo will go out with Josh. But Q tells Eliot what’s up right away - so they’re fake dating but real feelings happen. Super cheesy, of course, but it hits the spot!

in the world full wrong (you’re the thing that’s right) by Mizzy (@Mizzy2k). Explicit. 5,307 words. Eliot tries to hook up with Quentin Coldwater and gets more than he bargained for. I love this for how matter-of-fact Quentin is, about the fact that Eliot wants to seduce him… and then hpw he ends up doing some seducing of his own.

If You Haven’t Yet by OrchardsinSnow (@orchardsinsnow). Explicit. 5,828 words. Obviously we all love confident Eliot Waugh totally rocking Quentin’s world… but I have a soft spot for oddly confident Quentin who really knows what he’s doing, and this fic has the perfect blend of both dynamics. The best part is Quentin slowly and methodically undressing Eliot and not letting him help. It’s… whew. *fans self*

the heat that drives the light by peacefrog (@lizardkingeliot). Explicit. 9,296 words. Quentin and Eliot have an antagonistic relationship, until Eliot realizes Quentin might be what he’s looking for in a sexual partner. Sub Eliot, new-to-being-a-Dom Quentin. Super hot.

it started out with a kiss (how did it end up like this) by portraitofemmy (@portraitofemmy). Explicit. 7,896 words. In the aftermath of a bad breakup, Quentin and Eliot find their way to each other. This is super amazing all on its own, but the author is also working on a sequel that I’m really enjoying thus far. Either story could probably be read without the other, too.

the bridge between us by portraitofemmy (@portraitofemmy). Explicit. 16,201 words. Dom Eliot, Sub Quentin. Quentin and Eliot navigate their BDSM sex life, but also their feelings. Eliot is so tender and soft with Q, and Q learns to take care of Eliot in return. This is one of my absolute favorites from this author. Also, as a note, there’s a “prequel” to this fic called paint it red (Explicit, 7,197 words) that could totally be read as a separate piece, but is worth checking out as the origin story of how these two got together and started shaping their dynamics, sexual and otherwise.

(Everyone Has) That Drawer by ProofOfConcept and wilddragonflying. Explicit. 5,782 words. Eliot finds Quentin’s stash of sex toys. It’s enough to get him to finally act on their mutual, unspoken attraction. Hot!

Wake Me Up by rizcriz (@sadlittlenerdking). Not Rated. 4,000 words. Quentin has sleep apnea, but Eliot doesn’t know that… and he gets a little - alarmed. This is objectively an odd premise, but it’s incredibly sweet. rizcriz has about a million stories and I’ve read a lot of them, but I’m a fan of the ones like this, that take a specific concept and run with it, sort of like slice-of-life. Check out more of their work, though, I can’t possibly put them all on the list!

Migraine Mastery by SabbyStarlight. Not rated. 2,012 words. Short and sweet - Quentin has a migraine and Eliot helps.

Between Friends by sirfoxheart (@sirfoxheart). Explicit. 15,019 words. This is the quintessential (Quentin-sential?) Brakebills get-together fic. It’s a party, Quentin and Eliot end up going to bed together… both of them are a little uncertain about what this means, but they work it out. Recc’ing for the hot sex, but even more for the “wake up in the middle of the night to have a tender round two without talking about what it means” sex.

Sex Magic by sirfoxheart (@sirfoxheart). Explicit. 42,006 words. Uhh… what it says on the tin. Every one of these is scorching, but my favorite is probably the first one: How Easy You Are To Need.

All Of You A Verb In Perfect View by sirfoxheart (@sirfoxheart). Explicit. 6,398 words. PWP where Eliot distracts Quentin while he tries to do his homework.

You Can Devastate Me by sirfoxheart (@sirfoxheart). Explicit. 9,018 words. Marqueliot sex scene - Quentin and Eliot are a couple, but Margo is running the show. Just… hot, but of course Eliot’s love for Quentin still permeates the whole piece. So much tenderness, with so much filth.

~~~~~

Alternate Universe (No Magic)

So many of these seem so completely random in premise, but they’re all amazing!

Our Sublime Refrain by destielpasta (@queliotpasta) and mtothedestiel (@summersteve). Explicit. 233,929 words. It’s 1836, Eliot is a pianist. This one is Marqueliot, y’all, and let me tell you - it is a journey. If you are somewhat put off by the idea of an AU so far removed from canon, about a topic you know very little about… please give this a try. I was a little hesitant too, but I promise it will not disappoint.

Pretty Good Year by Hth (@spiders-hth-is-an-outlier). Explicit. 175,728 words. I’m not going to lie - this is a difficult fic for me. It’s stunning, but getting through it was an incredibly emotional, challenging journey. While many fics in this fandom deal with Quentin’s mental illness, I’ve never seen a fic talk about it quite like this one. That’s not to put you off from trying it if you haven’t already - this is one of the most achingly real stories I’ve ever read, and it will reward you for giving it a chance.

opening doors by impossibletruths (@impossibletruths). Mature. 52,230 words. Quentin is a playwright! Eliot is an associate director who used to act! This is a slow-ish burn, and the worldbuilding of the characters in a theatrical setting is so fun!

couch party verse by marcel. Mature. 33,725 words. These two stories feature Quentin, Eliot, and the rest of the gang at a non-magical grad school. The thing I love about these stories is how slow and realistic the escalation of the relationship feels. It’s not a hot hookup right away - they clearly like each other, but circumstances sometimes get in the way, and there’s also no big rush to the finish line. This is a softer, gentler universe that still has its own realism and trauma, too. I hope the author chooses to add to it someday!

Saltwater by mtothedestiel (@summersteve). Explicit. 35,560 words. It’s a pirate AU! What more could you possibly need to know? I love how all of the characters and locations are cleverly repurposed here - the Whitespire and Our Lady Underground are ships, Quentin is a ship’s doctor, Eliot is a captain, etc. And the slowburn between Quentin and Eliot is masterful. This is actually a series - part one is complete, and part two is in progress.

A (Gingerbread) House that we can Build by mtothedestiel (@summersteve), with art by eliotsvests (surprisegents). Explicit. 28,189 words. I am not a cheesy Christmas movie person, and I am not a kid!fic person. So I thought this might not be the story for me, at first. But I’m so glad I clicked on it - this is a story about second chances, and finding happiness when you aren’t even looking for it. And I love the way little Teddy is written here. He’s got all the sweetness of Quentin Coldwater’s son, without tilting over into being saccharine. This is just the right amount of sweet if you want to put yourself back in the holiday spirit.

I’ll Follow My Secret Heart by OrchardsinSnow (@orchardsinsnow). Mature. 17,613 words. I don’t really know how to describe this one… it’s weird! It’s a meet cute, Eliot gets in an accident, there’s a blizzard, bed (floor) sharing so as to prevent freezing to death, Eliot is kinda famous and Quentin doesn’t know. All I can say is, this is precious, and odd, and I got totally swept up in the world.

I Need You So Much Closer by OrchardsinSnow (@orchardsinsnow). Explicit. 14,436 words. I love this story. Eliot is a musician, he and Quentin are exes from years ago, who fell apart because of Eliot’s alcoholism. But he’s sober now, and he’s touring where Quentin lives - so they reconnect. Eliot calls Quentin the “smoke show love of [his] life” at one point in this fic, and that phrase just… stuck with me in the best way. Don’t miss the mini-sequel, You Need Me So Much Closer (Explicit, 3,874 words), either. I really hope the author writes more in this universe!

Experimentation by portraitofemmy (@portraitofemmy). Explicit. 4,812 words. PWP where Eliot meets Quentin at a sex shop and Eliot teaches him what he’s into. Hot hot hot.

(i just might) remember that night by portraitofemmy (@portraitofemmy). Explicit. 4,732 words. This might be crack, I don’t know. There are dick pics, and it’s silly, but also Quentin and Eliot feel this amazing connection to each other right off the bat, and that is honestly my jam.

and if tomorrow it’s all over (at least we had it for a moment) by sirfoxheart (@sirfoxheart). Explicit. 45,461 words. Quentin and Eliot were a couple in high school, but they haven’t seen each other in years. They run into each other again at Julia’s wedding, and everything comes rushing back. I like the fact that this fic features very little (if any) angst. The idea is that these two people missed out on their chance to be together, but they haven’t been desperately pining for years. But once they’re back in a room together… their connection is undeniable. Also, the sex is great.

hold me like a (liar) lover does by sirfoxheart (@sirfoxheart) with art by Doomkitty25. Explicit. 80,812 words. A holiday fic! Fake dating! Mutual pining! So tropey and excellent. Really hot sex, as is the norm for this author! Warning for Alice being something of a villain in this piece, although there’s a potential reconciliation implied right at the end. I love this fic for going beyond just the romance, and also telling a story about Quentin and Eliot’s careers, and what they want out of their lives - in terms of romance, yes, but in terms of their work lives as well.

Ask Me, I Won’t Say No by vegansheilseitan. Explicit. 22,616 words. A… pub trivia AU? Which is a thing I didn’t know I needed? Mostly this is about widower!Quentin, with a kid, meeting Eliot Waugh. They fall in love. The sex in this is incendiary, but the growing relationship between these two is what really makes it worth the read.

~~~~~

Alternate Universe (With Magic)

These stories feature roughly the same worldbuilding as the show’s canon, but the character’s journeys deviate significantly. Maybe Quentin and Eliot don’t meet at Brakebills, or their journey to getting there is different in some other way!

fire and life by everytuesday. Teen. 7,060 words. This is a high school AU, where Eliot discovers his magic, and accidentally kills his father. Quentin helps him to bury the body. It’s a little bit dark, obviously, given that description… so take care.

First Year by peacefrog (@lizardkingeliot). Mature. 11,957 words. Quentin is a Brakebills student, who also happens to be a sylph from Fillory. He has wings, and Eliot is more than a little intrigued. The author may have plans to write a sequel!

push me (further than i thought i could go) by peacefrog (@lizardkingeliot). Explicit. 15,036 words. Quentin and Eliot meet at a game of Push, and then have their own private contest later on. Mostly recommending this one for the sex, but also for Confident Quentin Coldwater, and for the fact that no matter the circumstances, these boys are gone for each other pretty much right away.

Hedges, Bitch by portraitofemmy (@portraitofemmy). Explicit. 56,568 words. This series has four works, the longest “main” story of which, theón kai andrón, is another personal favorite of mine. It features Eliot as the leader of a coven of hedge witches, and Quentin as a magical novice who didn’t make it into Brakebills. I love the dynamic between Quentin and Eliot in these stories, as they fall naturally into a dom/sub relationship, but Eliot works to make sure the power differential between them doesn’t adversely affect things, either on the job, or in their personal lives. Eliot is just so soft for Quentin in these stories, while also admiring him and depending on him as the gang gets themselves caught up in a dangerous threat to hedges all over the world.

~~~~~

Fillory/Royalty

These stories are sometimes canon deviations, and usually deal with Eliot as the High King, and his relationship with Quentin from there.

oh this is us, this is love and this is where I sleep by buckybunnyteeth. Explicit. 4,360 words. Quentin is jealous of Idri! Eliot is way, way too delighted about it. Really hot. I probably shouldn’t be as charmed by jealous!Quentin as I am. But this is amazing.

Make a list of things you need by longnationalnightmare. Explicit. 10,264 words. Eliot and Quentin are getting married, but Eliot’s okay with keeping it platonic. Quentin… is not. Hot, hot, hot.

i’d be the last shred of truth (in the lost myth of true love) by milominderbinder (@disasterbiquentin), with art by gilestel. Eliot and Margo are made the High Kings of Fillory, and then later Eliot meets a cute Brakebills professor Quentin Coldwater, who is staying at Whitespire for research. There’s a truth curse! Eliot is set to marry Idri, but uh-oh, feelings happen! Tropey as hell, super cute.

and this is the map of my heart by peacefrog (@lizardkingeliot). Explicit. 14,033 words. Eliot is High King, and he is expected to marry. Quentin magnanimously offers himself for the position, and of course there’s angst about that. And scorching hot sex. And Eliot struggling to be emotionally vulnerable. One of my absolute favorites from the author.

whitespire by peacefrog (@lizardkingeliot). Explicit. 1,529 words. Eliot sits on his throne, Quentin drops to his knees and calls him “Your Majesty.” So… yeah. Yum.

~~~~~

Brian and Nigel

This is an area where more content needs to exist! Send me a note if there are some I’ve missed.

A Little Disguised, or a Little Mistaken by Page161of180. Mature. 17,807 words. Brian and Nigel find each other, and fall in love. This is gorgeous. Quentin and Eliot are recognizably themselves, but also just different enough that when their real selves start poking through the memory wipe, you can feel the change coming. Another story where canon comes along and steals happiness right out from under them. They were so close!

Shine Through My Memory by PanBoleyn (@eidetictelekinetic). Mature. 61,311 words. This one starts as a fic about Brian and Nigel meeting and falling in love… and then the Monster still possesses Nigel/Eliot, and the events of season four continue from there. But with memories of Brian and Nigel’s love in Quentin’s head, things play out a little differently. We follow the story all the way through to Eliot getting saved by Margo and Quentin, and the reconciliation/reunion afterwards. This fic has a little of everything, and it’s really the only re-telling of season four I’ve seen that covers the canon plot while adding something new and unique to the story!

Reaching in the Dark by sirfoxheart (@sirfoxheart). Mature. 53,040 words. Eliot remembers who he is, but Quentin thinks he’s Brian. Eliot and Alice work together to protect Quentin from the Monster. This is so complex and difficult and sad and challenging, and when you reach the end, you’ll feel so frustrated about how close they were to figuring their shit out. But ultimately, canon comes back to snatch that happy ending away.

~~~~~

Other

The few fics that I couldn’t categorize neatly into any of the above sections.

So It May As Well Be Me by achray. Explicit. 14,596 words. There was only one bed. Trapped in a closet. Sex pollen. Sex magic rituals. Every fanfic trope becomes manifest. Quentin seems oblivious; Eliot is freaking out. This is just the epitome of fun.

our place in the family of things by greywash, with art by yourtinseltinkerbell (@yourtinseltinkerbell). Explicit. 208,582 words. This is sort of a Brakebills AU, I suppose, but it takes place after Eliot has graduated. Quentin comes to visit over the holidays. So here’s the thing about greywash’s prose - they are stunning. They are dense, and complex, and almost hard to read - but I mean that as the highest compliment. This story, and really all of this author’s work, rewards careful study. This story has so, so much to offer. So if you haven’t given it a shot, or you’re intimidated by the length, please give it a try. Featuring Eliot’s complex relationship with his mother, with religion, with his sexuality, with Quentin, with Margo. Featuring a story of queer love that transcends time and convention. Featuring some excellent worldbuilding, especially as concerns Quentin’s family, and Eliot’s career. Featuring beautiful accompanying artwork. Featuring a proposal scene that knocked me the fuck out. Featuring love, in every way.

To Give You Hope and a Future by Page161of180. Not rated. 4,374 words. I couldn’t put this in the fix-it category, or in the mosaic category, or really even in the post-season four category. It’s all and none of those things. Eliot, in the aftermath of Quentin’s death, goes to the mosaic and talks to old man Quentin, who is grieving his husband. This is sad, y’all. But cathartic, too.

Cheat Day by peacefrog (@lizardkingeliot). Explicit. 1,624 words. Set during season four. Quentin misses Eliot, and does something sad and dangerous. Short and… well, sweet is the wrong word. This one will punch you right in the gut.

Movement by pineapplecrushface (@pineapplecrushface). Explicit. 17,036 words. These are three stories that are only loosely connected in that they are about sex, and introspection. They fit into lots of categories - parts of them take place in Eliot’s happy place, parts at the mosaic, parts in the aftermath of possession. All three stories in the series are scorching hot and full of so much feeling. I really admire how they weave through time, following the changing dynamics through the events of canon in a really unique way.

darkness, welcoming by portraitofemmy (@portraitofemmy). Explicit. 17,748 words. I almost put this in the Alternate Universe (With Magic) section, but this is not the same world as canon. Eliot is a vampire! He saves Quentin’s life and then… uh… well, they fall in love, and there’s some blood play. Eliot is super smitten, and it’s precious. Also really hot.

What Was and What Will Be by ProofOfConcept and wilddragonflying. Mature. 35,996 words. This is part mosaic-fic, part post-possession fic… it’s basically just another story of these two idiots being so bad at communication, but finally getting it right. A really satisfying journey, encompassing so many elements of what we all wished for in canon. I especially loved the long and difficult conversation they have during their reunion. The line that really punched me in the gut was: “fuck you for saying ‘I love you’ for the first goddamn time when you’re breaking up with me.”

kiss me harder, you’re better than you know by propinquitous (@propinquitous). Explicit. 4,633 words. This could easily take place in a nebulous post-season-four world, but it exists in its own little bubble and could really slot into any given universe. It deals with Quentin’s depression in a really direct, really devastating way, but also features Eliot being there for Quentin as best as he can. As the tags say, “not the healthiest of coping mechanisms.” But it’s filled with so much tenderness I can hardly stand it.

To Feel the Same by Rizandace (@Nellie-Elizabeth). Teen. 1,725 words. A small gap-filler at the end of the “I think you should probably hug me right now” scene in 2x01.

[thatjustmakesyouabetacuck]

Vignettes from The Department of Emergency Services

Jordan’s shoulders slumped when he heard a knock on the door. A familiar voice asked, “Hey, this is the proctologist’s office, right?”

“Fuck off.”

“Oh, thank Christ. I was starting to wonder what a guy had to do, to who, to get a finger up his ass around here.” Ben LaVoie strode into the room, lab coat slung over his shoulder, and leaned against the edge of the desk with his hands in his pockets. He took the room in, cramped and cluttered with papers and binders though it was, and whistled. “Look at you with your big important office. I see you and Desai have the same flair for interior decorating, eh?”

He grabbed a box of surgical gloves off a nearby shelf and nudged Jordan with it. 

Jordan shrugged him off and ran a hand over his face. He groused, “I’ve had the job a day and I’m already fucking sick of the paperwork. You know chief residents set the schedules? I’ve had second years popping in all night, bugging me about some ‘can I get the weekend off’ shit.”

“Oof.”

“If I’m giving anybody the weekend off, it’s gonna be me. I’ll need it more than they will. People are already calling in favours, ‘Oh, remember six months back when I covered for you on-’”

“Disgusting,” Ben glanced down at the sheet Jordan had in front of him. “Exploiting generosity and personal connection for the sake of base, selfish… What the fuck? You’ve got me doing a thirty-six next week?”

“Johnson needed friday off. I needed somebody trustworthy covering for him, and you’re slightly less of a moron than the rest of our peers, so you’re it.”

“Fuck Johnson. I’m a newlywed. I wanna go home and hang out with my wife.”

“He’s going to his uncle’s funeral.”

Ben rolled his eyes skyward. He grumbled, “Oh fine. Fuck, osti de cris de tabarnak, certains putains de gens ont une excuse pour– Fine. Okay. I’ll work the overnight.”

Jordan clucked his tongue patronizingly. “Aw, aren’t you just an angel? If they don’t drown me in requests, I’ll get on nominating you for that Nobel Peace Prize.”

“...I liked you better before you were my boss.”

***

“What’d you do to my car?”

That had been the story of Rocky Kolar’s afternoon - Officer Castle had been circling around the Ford Vic, questioning him on every chip in the paint and dent on the bumper. His specialty was fixing emergency vehicles, and that vocation took him all around the city and introduced him to all different sorts. And of those sorts, Castle was amongst his least favorite.

“I did exactly what I’m paid to do: I fixed it.”

It seemed like Castle fucked up his squad car some way or other every other month, and Rocky always ended up being the one to fix it. And then every time he did, Castle insisted on inspecting every inch of it, and critiquing the ways in which Rocky had fallen short of the standard of service that was expected.

But the fact was, Rocky hadn’t been paid to repaint it, or buff out dents. The brakes needed work, so he’d worked on the brakes. The stain was the first thing he’d found that hadn’t been there when he’d dropped it off.

“You messed with it some way. I can just feel it.” Castle shouldered past him. “Pop the hood again.”

Rocky obliged him. Castle stuck his head inside, grumbling to himself as he looked around. It took another couple minutes before he found his next objection; “And what do you call this?”

Rocky circled around him. “What do I call what?”

Castle whacked at a metal circle behind the grill with the wrench he’d picked up. “This fucking thing.”

“...What do you think it is?”

Castle straightened up and looked directly at him. “I think you’re just the kind of crazy redneck fuck that would try and kill a cop for bragging rights.”

Rocky didn’t budge. “That a formal accusation, officer?”

Castle braced his hands against the sides of the car. “Not if you tell me what this thing is.”

“Show me again.”

Rocky waited for Castle to lean back in, then reached through the driver’s side window and slapped down on the car horn. It blared out loud enough that Castle jumped, and hit his head on the hood. 

“Satisfied?”

“GODDAMN MOTHERFUCKING COCKSUCKING SON OF A B-!”

Castle was hopping around the room, his hands over his ears, cursing at the top of his lungs. “YOU’RE A FUCKING DEAD MAN WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU, YOU MOTHERFUCKING HICK PIECE OF SHIT!”

Rocky didn’t even flinch. He just stood and watched the officer kick over an empty can, his arms folded over his chest, trying to fight off a shit-eating grin. “You asked what it did.”

***

Thwack.

Thump.

Thwack.

Thump.

Thwack.

Thump.

For Ruy Narvaez, the novelty of sliding down a pole in his underpants to go use the bathroom when he was doing overnights at the firehouse hadn’t quite worn off yet. He’d been there for over a year now, but he still always got a kick out of it.

Thwack.

Thump.

Thwack.

Thump.

He’d went to go take a piss, then he’d made himself a sandwich in the kitchenette. From there, he could see a small group gathered around the pool table while Rafe and Eric viciously rallied the ball back and forth.

Thwack.

Thump.

Thwack.

Thump.

Ruy wrapped up his sandwich, came closer, and vaulted over the back of the couch. He landed next to Lieutenant Brennan and settled in. “How long have they been playing for, boss?”

Thwack.

Thump.

Thwack.

“Rally’s been going for seven minutes straight.” Brennan grabbed for half of the sandwich, but Ruy twisted away. “I bet AJ it’d go the full ten.”

Ruy snorted, his mouth full of sandwich. “Nuwer.”

“What?”

Ruy swallowed. “No way. Somebody’s arm’s gonna get tired.”

“You looking to get in on the action, probie?”

“Okay. Five bucks on nine minutes.”

Thump.

Thwack.

Thump.

“Five bucks? C’mon now. Go big or go home.”

“Five’s big enough.”

Thwack.

Thump.

“What about you, Secord? You got some thoughts?”

Thwack.

Thump.

Josh was sitting upside down in an armchair. Legs dangling over the back and his hands on his stomach. He shook his head. “I’m set.”

Thwack.

Thump.

“What about you, cap?”

Theo was leaning against a column, thumbing through a magazine. “Fuck it. Twenty bucks on eight minu-”

Ross glanced down at his phone. “We’re at eight.”

“...I mean, twenty bucks on nine and a half minutes.”

“I heard eight.”

“You heard wrong, lieutenant. Nine and a half.”

Suddenly, with a flourish, Rafe smashed the ball with his paddle and sent it driving into the corner of the table. Eric’s paddle skimmed just over it, and the ball bounced harmlessly against the floor. Eric threw it down in disgust, and Rafe raised his hands in the air. “I AM THE FUCKING PING-PONG GOD!”

Ross groaned. “Come on! I believed in you guys.”

“Fuck you,” Eric laughed. “Lucky shot.”

“The ping-pong God makes his own luck.”

“The ping-pong God’s about to get a fucking paddle upside the head.”

Rafe whirled around to face his assembled coworkers. “Who said ten minutes?” His hands were on his hips. “Show of hands, who thought it’d even take me ten minutes to put this sorry motherfucker away?”

Eric protested, “Hey, you gonna keep talking or we gonna finish our set?”

“Who won? Because by my count, they just won like fifty bucks.” Rafe rubbed his hands together gleefully. “Way I’m feeling, I might get that bill laminated, so they can frame it and pray to it when they think they can’t beat the odds.”

Eric slapped his hands down on the table, “Are we finishing the game?”

“I’m hard as fuck right now,” Rafe laughed. “I can’t even focus. I’m feeling myself too much right now. I’m gonna go grab a slice of cake and celebrate.” He stepped up onto the couch, reached down, and snatched away the half of Ruy’s sandwich that he’d already taken a bite out of.

“Hey!”

Rafe hopped over the back, and waved the sandwich in the air. “Fuck you, probie! To the victor goes the spoils!”

Ruy jumped up. “Give me back my sandwich!”

“Ifishyursammich,” Rafe managed, around a big bite of it. “Whymiedinit?”

Ruy stalked after him, as the others laughed. “Dude, this isn’t funny! Give me back my sandwich!”

[fireflyhwufanficwriter]

My thoughts on Dr. Stone’s Chapter 187 (“Cyber Guerilla”)

My thoughts after reading Chapter 187:

01. (CHAPTER PARALLEL.) Chapter 187 shares interesting similarities with Chapter 151 (the chapter right after “Dr. Taiju” spoke with Dr. Xeno) 😲 Both chapters have: (1.) a cunning, intelligent person in enemy hands who gave misleading information (Francois with Stanley, Gen with Dr. Xeno); (2.) both had combatants who intended to go out on their own mission (Kohaku to rescue Suika and the others; Yo/Magma/Mantle to be heroes; (3.) both showed warriors being sent out on a specific mission (Tsukasa/Hyoga/Ukyo/Suika to capture Dr. Xeno, Tsukasa/Hyoga to help Kohaku); (4.) both showed Hyoga providing information on what actions the enemy might take (build a pirate vessel to capture the Perseus / potentially harm Nikki and the others in Corn City); and (5.) both of their last pages showed that the kingdom of science was about to fight enemies who had very advanced guns 😲 Not all of them are exactly the same (Nikki stopped Yo, Magma, and Mantle from leaving / it wasn’t specified whether Tsukasa and Hyoga were sent to Kohaku or if they decided to follow her without being told to do so). But still, there are so many parallels… impressive! 😲😁

02. (ENEMY GROUP.) They know how to track footprints? I didn’t know they taught that in the army… then again, Stanley’s the only confirmed soldier, I think. Maybe he or Dr. Xeno or somebody else taught everybody how to do that? When we see the enemy through Kohaku Vision… there are SO MANY of them! 😲 Or, wait… is she imagining them moving and that’s why it looks like there’s a lot of them even though there are actually only four enemies? Like if you were to put still video frames on top of one another? How many people does Stanley’s group have? Did the enemy group just HAPPEN to stop that close to one of Chrome’s traps? Seems like a big coincidence to me… That “FOUND… YOU!” SO reminded me of Krone from The Promised Neverland! 😲 It was even in really creepy font and speech bubbles!)

03. (GEN.) Gen, wow! 😁 Gen and Kohaku haven’t been interacting THAT much lately, so I don’t really think of him when I think of Kohaku. And while I wish it were Senku who had thought of it first, at the same time, it makes SO much sense that Gen was the one who realized that Kohaku was likely to run off by herself to rescue Suika. The two of them go way back (she threatened him when they first met, and he saw from when they made the magnets how fast she was), and he was there when Kohaku wanted to rush off to defend Kinro (after he was stabbed by Hyoga), rescue Chrome from Tsukasa (when he was in the bamboo prison), and avenge Chrome’s broken statue during the Treasure Island arc. In fact, in that same chapter (Chapter 107) Gen and Kohaku’s wrists were connected with rope, and later on, Gen deduces what Kohaku meant with her wordless written message. Because they both have really strong connections with other characters, and because they both have their own very important roles in the kingdom of science, it’s easy to sleep on (or overlook) their own unique dynamic, but Kohaku knows just how talented Gen is, and Gen knows Kohaku well enough to be able to deduce her thoughts and predict her movements. Gen impressed me in this chapter, and what’s great is that his anticipating this makes so much sense because of the groundwork that’s come before. I’ll be paying MUCH closer attention to Gen and Kohaku’s interactions from now on, that’s for sure! 😲😊

04. (KOHAKU.) I like Kohaku so much and I’m so happy whenever I see her in chapters that I’m surprised the thought of her running off after they got the news didn’t cross my mind 😲 But it’s just like her to be so concerned for her comrades, especially Suika! 😊 As she said, finding them was easy peasy because of her eyesight :P It’s so cool how she was analyzing the different enemy soldiers and their functions (leader, comms man) and their physical positions and movements! 😊 And she probably knew that person was their communications guy because he had a pack on that was similar to what the kingdom of science made in the Stone Wars arc 😁 Her vision was shown as all black, with waves emanating from everybody… wow! 😲 It reminds me of sonograms or echolocation! She looks so happy to see Tsukasa and Hyoga, which is so funny given her histories with both of them 😆 (I was looking up past chapters while writing this and while I was searching for something about Hyoga in the Stone Wars arc, Kohaku’s short scene after Mirai was depetrified made me cry, like it has ten billion times before. I LOVE that scene…) In the next frame, where Hyoga is saying that they came prepared too, Kohaku looks cute 😊 Of course, after hearing about Hyoga’s hypothetical scenario, Kohaku’s worried for the others’ safety! 😭 She’s determined for them to at least destroy the transceiver before they “die,” but… I don’t want Kohaku to die!!! 😲😭 And after Maya finds them, Hyoga thinks they’re going to die, Tsukasa thinks they’re going to die, and… Kohaku thinks they’re going to die 😭 Kohaku’s gritting her teeth, and the thick line on the right side of her mouth makes it SORT of look like she’s confident and ready for battle, but usually when manga/anime characters grit their teeth and you can’t see their eyes, it’s a bad thing, right? Like they’re stressed or scared or about to cry? 😔 She looks much more confident on the next page when she talks about how she never imagined that the three of them would march into battle together 😊 But I’m still worried about them, especially Kohaku… 😔

05. (HYOGA.) Hyoga, who defied Kohaku’s expectations before when he helped her up like a gentleman, noticed that Kohaku was evaluating the enemy 😊 I don’t think he will, but imagine if Hyoga betrayed them at this critical juncture. They’re not using a cable car in the middle of nowhere anymore; he would be a very useful informant for Stanley AND Hyoga’s likely to get along with Dr. Xeno and Stanley’s group because they really do things properly 😲 He has a really good point about destroying the enemy’s transceiver! “Please think about it for a moment.” I can just imagine Hyoga saying that in a really posh, polite way (with “kudasai” at the end), even in the situation they’re in 😆 Of course, I could be totally wrong, haha! When Hyoga started talking about slicing off Dr. Xeno’s body parts… WOW 😲 And look at his eyes – they’re open JUST the TINIEST bit, which makes him look even more menacing – and that’s taking into account the previous page where him with his eyes open looked scary enough ALREADY… and he got creepy speech bubble borders to go with his chilling plans! When they heard what he said, Kohaku looked “whuuut,” but Tsukasa kind of seems like he’s rolling his eyes, like, “Ugh, here we go, he’s talking about slicing off fingers and toes, AGAIN…” 🙄 Hahaha! 😁 He’s not even really horrified or anything 😆

06. (SENKU.) Senku had his finger to his lips, like he wanted them to be quiet, even though they were firing a literal GUN 😆 And the plastic container thing was a good idea! 😊

07. (TSUKASA.) Tsukasa’s pretty familiar with twenty-first century fighting and warfare (he was a melee fighter back then, so he wasn’t using guns or anything, but he DID know what materials Senku needed for gunpowder), so he knows that their chances of defeating enemies with guns aren’t very high… 😔 Tsukasa knows combat theory… wow! 😲 Oh… I never thought of the Corn City people as hostages! 😔 Can somebody explain to me the advantages of using Tsukasa’s weapon? Um… I guess if you’re fighting somebody in front of you and somebody behind you, you can swing it at both of them? Or if you’re whirling into a group of enemies like a hurricane, it prevents anybody from reaching you?

08. (UKYO.) Ukyo looked so cute when he was holding up that fluffy boom microphone thing to record the gunshot sound 😁 And it’s cool to see him in his element (like him explaining sound effects in movies… to a stone age person like Chrome, of all people 😆 But to Senku too, I suppose, haha!) (and like him saying to layer the sounds on top of each other; very smart!), because his skill is really unique! 😊

09. (FINAL THOUGHTS.) I liked this chapter! 😁 Kohaku played a major role AND I got to see characters I know and care about (instead of getting so many no-text panels of the enemy group) AND those characters were conversing intelligently about their situation! 😊 But, at the end… the kingdom of science’s warriors three MOST POWERFUL WARRIORS, all three of them, are leaping down to battle enemies that ALREADY have GUNS pointed at them. GUNS! Held by PROFESSIONALS! How…? I mean… I know I shouldn’t worry. Hyoga’s too interesting a character to kill off now; Tsukasa has been in the story so long and had those moon-related conversations with Senku; and Kohaku has been such an important character since she made her first appearance – if I remember correctly, she’s only been far away from Senku twice since they met: her infiltration mission on Treasure Island and when she, Chrome, and Gen were looking for Dr. Xeno’s fortress. I KNOW Kohaku’s not going to die. I KNOW that. But… look at the situation they’re in!! 😭 They’re not civilians or prisoners of war… they’re combatants, and not only that, but they’re THE combatants who stormed Dr. Xeno’s fortress and captured him! There will be NO mercy for the enemy for these three! 😲 So… hmm… well, what’s coming to mind now is that if Hyoga pretends to betray them, he could buy them time… or will the Medusa be used? Either Senku’s group will petrify everybody fighting using Chrome’s trap (good thing he made those!), or Tsukasa and Hyoga actually have the Medusa with them right now (we saw Senku holding it, but he could have given it to them before they left) and it just hasn’t been revealed yet. Ah… okay, I feel better now 😊 There are ways that this can turn out fine, and we’ll all find out next week what happens next! 😁

https://firefly-hwufanficwriterrrrr.tumblr.com/MyDrStoneEpisodeMangaThoughts

[ichika27]

Thoughts about Yashahime pt2

Because I have more stuff in my mind and I have to ramble or else I’ll lose it. This is supposed to be a part of the overall post I did after watching season 1 but it was longer than expected so I made a second post. I wanted to post my thoughts on sessrin but that would make this more unbearably longer than it already is jfc.

This is my “additional thoughts on season 1 stuff and what I wish to see in season 2″ filled with spoilers and actually have more screenshots.

Thoughts on Moroha:

I know you’ve probably heard of it from everyone else but I’ll say my piece, too: they wasted Moroha’s character. I know the main protag is Towa and Setsuna (as seen by the summary) but it’s not an excuse to just... not give Moroha anything. Inuyasha’s main characters are Kagome and Inuyasha but they also gave their companions (Sango, Miroku, and Shippo) the spotlight with episodes dedicated to them and their issues and in battle, they do get to shine. Moroha keeps getting thrown off, injured, or passed out and the twins (esp. Towa) gets to finish off the bad guys (sometimes the buildup to it is too much but how she beat up the bad guy is anti-climatic). It’s a waste cause she’s a bounty hunter who is not only trained but also has a lot more experience than Towa does. She doesn’t even have to land the finishing blow but at least don’t make her lame.

I do understand why the battle in both Inuyasha and Yashahime is different though. The Shikon Jewel is powerful even when it’s in pieces. Even a shard could give an advantage to anyone who has it and so many demons are drawn to it and to the person who has it. The more Kagome and the gang get, the more enemies they would attract especially Naraku and his minions whose goal is similar to the protagonists that they also want the entire jewel. As such, there are many enemies to fight with and so even if Inuyasha and Kagome are fighting the boss, there are other enemies for their companions to fight with showing us what they’re capable of.

Yashahime has the seven rainbow pearls which not everyone knows about and while powerful, it’s not as great as the Shikon Jewel that helped create it. There’s also just one main bad guy group - Kirinmaru, his sister Zero, and the four perils (one of them is dead before the story starts, too so 3 perils). Not all of them have minions or bring a horde of demons in battle so in a fight with the trio, there’s a lack of enemy. Some episodes at least have 2-3 or so but the later boss fights are like, 1 or 2... and Moroha gets thrown off and the twins get the spotlight and there’s no other enemy they can give Moroha who ends up being used as comic relief.

I hope this changes in the second season at least. Let Moroha show off more of her badass abilities. Even if she's a quarter-demon, she is also the daughter of Kagome and have sacred abilities which can actually fight off demons and make her immune to some debilitating stuff for demons like her as shown in one of the episodes. There's so much potential there!

Also, I wish they let Hisui be a part of the team. Like, he’s Miroku and Sango’s kid. Can’t he be a part of the main cast, too? It’s a waste cause he is close with Setsuna having worked with her as a Demon Slayer. He could be incorporated in the story and could even give us insights as to what's happened with his family in the time when Inuyasha and Kagome disappeared and all that and even give a reason to have Miroku and Sango appearances from time to time.

Thoughts on Yawaragi and the wolves:

Another thing wasted. She helped raise Moroha who is a main character so she should've gotten a bit more screentime rather than everything about her shoved in one episode and is barely talked about after. If they just didn't do the whole mystery thing with Moroha's backstory they could've put more flashbacks with her time with Moroha earlier in the show. You can't tell me they weren't trying to make Moroha's past mysterious when she barely talked about her Master or her childhood with not even a single second of flashback showing up before the episode with Yawaragi. There's also that time when Towa asked why Moroha is trying so hard to get money from bounty hunting and then Moroha dodged answering. So many theories came out of that interaction! People thought her bounty hunting and debt is connected to her real parents even.

If they didn't go with this route we could've gotten attached to the idea that even if Moroha didn't have her real parents around, she's got someone else that care about her and their reunion and battle against each other would've felt more dramatic. I personally would've felt "No! She could've been here longer to see Moroha grow as a fighter and even talk to her parents once they're back!" but due to how it was done, I couldn't feel that. Moroha is already independent when she's introduced and again, we barely hear anything about Yawaragi. It would've also helped develop Moroha as a character cause we'd know more about her and how she became who she is now.

Also, Moroha is given to the wolf tribe led by Koga. Imagine if they showed that in flashbacks and expanded on it! Koga's a supporting character in Inuyasha and was even in a love triangle with him wanting to get Kagome. It would've been interesting to see the characters we knew from back then while also showing us Moroha's childhood.

Like, one of the things I mentioned that I wanted to see when I found out the sequel is about the next gen kids is seeing how the now grown up cast of Inuyasha interact with the kids and how they are as parents. With the kids' actual parents not around for reasons (depriving us of seeing how they'd handle being first time parents which is a shame), the kids' interaction with their foster family is the next best thing. They gave us a couple of episodes about Towa and her life with the Higurashi's (specifically, Kagome's now adult younger brother Souta and his family) and later Setsuna living in the hanyou village under Shiori - also a supporting character like Koga but appears only for a few episodes. Again, something for the twins but not much for Moroha. It could've been something!

Thoughts on Takechiyo:

He's kind of like the Shippo of the show but isn't treated like he is. I like it actually cause seeing the promotional materials made me think he'd be Shippo 2.0 but just like the other characters, he didn't become an actual copy-paste.

Takechiyo works for Jyubei just like Moroha does but he's more of Moroha's supervisor (could order her around and would send Jyubei reports of what Moroha is doing on the job) while also acting as transportation for Moroha (or Towa if bribed) towards where the demon they need to fight are. He's not a part of the main cast but shows up a lot due to the transportation thing.

He does seem to have a deeper backstory but it is barely touched upon at all. I do hope they do something about it in s2.

Thoughts on Riku x Towa:

From the episode where Riku is first introduced, many fans already wanted to ship Riku with Towa. They do have that feel to it with their interaction at the beginning - it's cute! It does get the spotlight and the fans do get an episode which is really shippy but as I pointed out in the main Yashahime post, it felt rushed.

The first time Riku appeared, they had a bit of moment and then Riku has Towa framed up for stealing a sword he probably took himself for entertainment, probably as there seem to have not been any important reason for this. It gets settled as we saw from episode 1 but it's never brought up again. When he shows up in front of the trio later on, he gets greeted like the issue never happened.

Anyways, Riku does get scenes for himself but it's either him being mysterious or interacting with the enemies (which made it hard for fans to pinpoint exactly where his loyalties lie and it was hard to know how exactly to feel about him). He doesn't have much interaction with the trio either only showing up from time to time and there didn't seem to be any personal talks either.. you know, bonding moment that isn't just going into battle?

I'm bringing all of this up because the shippy episode is, as I said, felt rushed. Riku suddenly feels something for Towa but it felt like it came out of nowhere due to the lack of meaningful scenes together. He's not human nor a normal being (he's a doll, apparently?) and don't understand emotions that well and the buildup to him suddenly having feelings for Towa felt unrealistic. Emotionless or stoic characters gaining an understanding of feelings, especially their own, is a big deal. Sesshoumaru himself, Towa's father, went through this and his character development from always annoyed and angry villain to actually-starting-to-care anti-hero is really fun to watch and it was something I looked forward to seeing in the original series. Riku's development didn't really have give the same satisfying feeling due to how it was handled. There was a lack of gradual buildup.

Upon revisiting past episodes and remembering that he doesn't think very well of half-demons and humans (probably cause of what happened to his mistress, Zero with the whole heartbreak thing) it makes the thing even weirder. I could maybe think that he might be lying to Towa but a couple of his actions later on like lying to Zero about Towa, it seems he does honestly care about her.

There's still a chance in s2 though since the two didn't really get together and were more "I don't get it but maybe I do feel something." in that episode. It's not fully romantic yet but could actually get there. With Riku being connected to Kirinmaru and Zero though, I'm kind of scared for how his character would develop outside of ships (like he could end up becoming a bad guy firmly on Zero's side with no hesitation anymore to uh... I do hope they don't kill him in the end).

His role of being in the enemy side but slowly cares for the heroes have so much potential for a fun story development!

Finally, thoughts on Kirinmaru:

He’s been kinda weird from the start. He could’ve killed the girls himself when he found out about them but he didn’t even though there’s this prophecy thing which is strange. I mean it was talked about like it was urgent but then again, most of it seem to be fueled by Zero and her personal issues at being heartbroken lol.

Kirinmaru is as confusing as Riku when it comes to understanding what he’s on about and where his character is gonna go. A bad guy who doesn’t really act like it and have mysterious plans. I guess this’ll be focused on in season 2. Hopefully. Please don’t drag this out longer than it should be.

On the other hand, a minor thing: final battle between the girls and Kirinmaru at the first season’s climax: Setsuna is probably dead and her sister and cousin are enraged. Moroha goes Beniyasha-mode and Towa finally goes demon-mode and both unleash their most powerful attacks onto Kirinmaru. They got beaten which isn’t as surprise at all cause Kirinmaru is supposed to be as powerful as the girls’ grandfather who is a Daiyoukai and there’s no way in hell a bunch of kids (with one lacking in a lot of battle experience) could suddenly beat him just like that.

Anyways, Moroha uses her most powerful attack which is something her grandpa, the Daiyoukai Toga created but had evolved into something more her own. Towa is similar with her using her most powerful attack that came from her father but this time, changed into something of her own. Kirinmaru notices and while blocking off their attacks actually talks to them basically saying “These techniques you’re using that originally came from your grandfather and father respectively have been changed into something else by yourselves so you guys should rename them appropriately.”

He said it so calmly before defeating them afterwards. I thought “lol this guy sounds like a teacher.”

Hehehe